Shifting Gears Keith Martin
Two Coasts, Two Weekends, 5,000 Cars
(where else can you take a break from bidding on a car and play the slot
machines, as you can at the Fort McDowell Casino?).
This issue has the most complete wrap-up and analysis of the
Arizona auctions you'll find anywhere. I suggest you get very comfortable
before you start reading the market reports, as you won't be able to
put down this issue until you are done.
Gators and 'Cudas
This year, there was no R&R after Scottsdale. Dana Mecum is a
feisty guy, and if measured by number of cars offered at auction during
the past 24 years, has built America's largest auction company.
Audaciously, he put his auctions on the Velocity Channel by buying the
broadcast time — and that strategy has worked to make his company a
household mass-media name nearly on par with Barrett-Jackson.
Mecum has often commented to me that his Kissimmee auction,
Move Over Power Approaching Rapidly
“T
o Infinity, and Beyond!” That's how I felt as I left
Scottsdale, AZ, where 2,694 cars had crossed the block,
and headed to Kissimmee, FL, where another 2,326 consigned
vehicles were looking to find new owners.
For 25 years, attending the January auctions in Scottsdale has been
a fixture in the SCM calendar and in my personal life. A detective could
easily determine my profession by looking at my Outlook calendar
— there, along with the birthdays, anniversaries, first-day-of-school
reminders and dog-vaccination updates, are recurring items such as
“book tickets to Scottsdale.”
In the same color-keyed category, you'd find “renew Pebble Beach
apartment, make arrangements for Concorso Italiano, book flight to Fall
Auburn, rent car for Bloomington Gold, secure tickets to LegoLand for
Bradley while emcee of La Jolla Concours d'Elegance” and so on. This
year there was a new addition, “Make arrangements to go to Mecum
Kissimmee after Arizona.”
First, Scottsdale
Let's start with the desert. Auction week in Arizona was fun. Unlike
the past few years, when everyone was wondering whether the other
shoe was about to drop and whether the world would decide that collector
cars just didn't matter anymore — so Ferrari GTOs would suddenly
be worth $5,000 — the buoyancy of Monterey 2011 carried over to
Scottsdale.
Most notably, Barrett-Jackson decided to get back into the million-
dollar-car business, and the cars it offered as “Salon” consignments
were bid out of the park. $2.9m for a Tucker? $2.2m for a steel
Gullwing? Not bad for an auction company that some said should just
focus on sub-$250,000 muscle cars.
I have long felt — and written — that Barrett-Jackson held on to
its “no reserve only” policy for too long, and had not recognized the
changes in the collector car market that came with the downturn in
2007. Simply put, in perilous financial times, sellers want to be able to
protect their cars by putting reserves on them.
Every other auction company offers sellers the option of a reserve
— and a further option of pulling that reserve, on the auction block,
once the seller gets a sense of where the real money is. I hope that
Barrett-Jackson views the success of its Salon cars as an incentive to be
more liberal in allowing sellers to set reserves. In any event, it's good to
see B-J once again playing in the top tier of the auction world.
I managed to get to every auction. We shot several episodes of
“What's My Car Worth?” at Gooding (the show is now one of the topfive-rated
car properties on Velocity Channel), RM continues to hold
court at the Arizona Biltmore, Russo has a new paved area that greatly
enhances the bidder experience, Bonhams made a modest entry into the
scene, and Silver continues to own the affordable sector of the market
14
which occurs the weekend after Scottsdale, never got the attention or
respect it deserved. It's easy to understand why — after all, Arizona
auction week is made of six auction companies, including everything
from the boutique sales of Gooding and RM to the Barrett-Jackson
extravaganza, with 250,000 in attendance and millions watching on
SPEED channel.
But there's a first time for everything, and this was my year to expe-
rience Mecum Kissimmee. One of Mecum's headline auctions, it had
2,326 cars on offer. I arrived on Thursday, spent Friday and Saturday
kicking tires and talking with subscribers to SCM and American Car
Collector, and came home on Sunday. I accidentally bought a 500-ci,
700-hp Hemi-powered '63 Dodge 440 two-door Post on Saturday night,
but more on that below.
The lineup at Kissimmee was typical of most Mecum sales, where
American cars are in abundance and sports and imports are scarce.
(Look for a complete report on this auction in the next issue of ACC.)
With the (very satisfying and successful) debut of American Car
Collector, suddenly we have a publication that is a natural fit for the
cars that Mecum had for sale. The ACC staff has been clamoring for a
few cars of their own, decrying the Volvo 1800 ES and the Alfa GTV as
“those fussy little things with pistons the size of thimbles.” They asked
me to look for a car that “a real man would drive.”
On Saturday night, I had said farewell to Dana and was ready to
leave, sans muscle car, when Lot S274 rolled into the on-deck circle.
A pristine, 45,000-mile Dodge 440 with mostly original paint and
interior, it had been tastefully and expensively made into a 700-hp
resto-mod car capable of “running 10.8s at the strip and then going
out to dinner with my wife,” according to the builder and seller, Gary
Spencer, of Troy Spencer & Sons in Dover, DE.
With nearly $100,000 spent to create the car, it was exquisitely
finished and ready to go. Most Dodges from this era are junk, with
horrible paint jobs and gutted interiors. This car was different.
It was a no-sale at $30,000. I got Dana's attention and offered $35k
plus commission, and the deal was done. Reliable Carriers is the official
transporter for Mecum auctions, so 10 days later, one of their
trucks rolled up to Sports Car Market and American Car Collector
World Headquarters in Portland, and for just about $40k all-in, we had
thunder in the basement garage.
I've only driven it around the block, but the other tenants in our
building are already complaining about the racket and shaking floors
when we fire it up, which has to be a good thing. The ACC gang has
got great plans for the car, and as it has a cage certified for nine-second
runs, they are figuring out how to get that extra horsepower out of the
aluminum Hemi. You can read about its future exploits in ACC — and
I want to go on record as saying the rumor circulating around our offices
that the Alfas, Volvo, Porsche and Lotus all dribbled coolant on
themselves when the Dodge took its space in the garage is simply not
true. They just inadvertently let a little air escape from their tires. ♦
Sports Car Market

Inside Line Chester Allen Send news and event listings to insideline@sportscarmarket.com.
■ No one can imagine what
Bell Lexus Copperstate 1000
Industry News
■ Barrett-Jackson auctioned
off donated cars and raised
almost $5.9m for more than 20
national and local charities at
its January 15–22 auction in
Scottsdale, AZ.
Collectible cars and other
vehicles, including SCMer Jay
Leno's New Holland tractor,
crossed the block for charity.
Leno's tractor sold for $535,000.
Barrett-Jackson waived all fees
and commissions for charity
sales. www.barrett-jackson.com.
(AZ)
■ Gordon McCall, the
mastermind of The Quail: A
Motorsports Gathering, a Pebble
Beach Concours d'Elegance
judge and a longtime SCMer,
will run Barrett-Jackson's
newly created “Salon Offering
Collection” division. Salon
Offerings are Barrett-Jackson's
high-end cars that are auctioned
with a reserve price. www.
barrett-jackson.com. (AZ)
■ The 22nd Annual Bell
Lexus Copperstate 1000 rolls
out of Diablo Stadium in Tempe,
AZ, on April 15, and, by the
time the driving ends on April
18, driver teams and their cars
— all built before 1974 — will
cover at least 1,000 miles of the
Southwest's best twisty two-lane
roads. Police escorts will keep
things safe and brisk for the 75
Events
■ We wouldn't miss the 48th
Annual Portland Swap Meet
from April 13 to 15 — even if it
rains every day. Come to think of
it, there always is a good chance
of rain in Portland, OR, in April.
Six local car clubs sponsor the
event, which features more than
4,200 vendor stalls — and more
than 50,000 shoppers — and
is now the largest auto parts
swapmeet on the West Coast.
Admission is $7, and savvy shoppers
bring along little red wagons
to tote those heavy parts. www.
portlandswapmeet.com. (OR)
cars and their two-person driving
teams. Mechanics will also be
on hand to keep the cars on the
road. The $5,800 fee covers just
about everything one car and
two drivers will need over four
days on the road. www.copperstate1000.com.
(AZ)
■ Martin Swig's annual
California Mille, now in its
22nd year, is one of the most
popular driving events in the
world of vintage cars. Many
participants return year after
year, and who could blame them
for developing an addiction
for leaving San Francisco's
posh Fairmont Hotel for four
days of driving over Northern
California's best roads? This
year's event, which runs from
April 29 through May 3, features
two nights at Lake Tahoe and
two nights at the Solage Hotel
& Spa in Calistoga. This event
is famous for fabulous wine,
friendship and food. $6,000.
www.californiamille.com. (CA)
■ Steve Austin's Great
Vacations Car Tours have
added a new program for 2012.
The “Le Mans Classic” bi-annual
Historic Races at Le Mans
includes a pre-race program of
visits to the Normandy Beaches,
Mont St. Michel and the Loire
Valley. Tour days are July
2-9. The tour also includes an
optional Goodwood Festival of
Speed add-on. Austin is also
offering his eighth tour for the
“Monaco Historics & Mille
Miglia” in May and “England
& the Goodwood Revival” in
September. Visit www.steveaustinsgreatvacations.com
or call
503.824.4079. ♦
150 acres and 8,100 booths
jammed full of collector cars,
collector car parts and car collectors
really looks like, so all you
can — and should — do is head
to the Spring Carlisle Collector
Car Swap Meet & Corral from
April 25 to 29 and bask in the
delightful excess. Collectors
kick tires at a 2,000-car corral,
roam all the booths and, of
course, bring enough money to
bring home the treasures. Spring
Carlisle is a must-see, must-do
event. SCM and ACC are now
partners with Carlisle and are
producing their programs.
Admission $10 Wednesday
through Saturday, $5 on Sunday.
A five-day pass is $30. Children
age 8 and younger get in free.
www.carlisleevents.com. (PA)
48th Annual Portland Swap Meet
18
Spring Carlisle Collector Car Swap Meet & Corral
Sports Car Market

You Write We Read
All letters are subject to editing. Please address correspondence to SCM, P.O. Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208.
Fax 503.253.2234, e-mail: youwrite@sportscarmarket.com
(March 2012, “Shifting Gears,”
p. 14) was on the money and well
worth thinking about. I believe
your reply points to a major adjustment
in the collector hobby/
market in the not-too-distant
future.
I could not agree more. We do
live in unique automotive times
and have for some time.
We, your generation and
mine, are products of a time with
automobiles that was indeed,
simpler, and, if I may suggest,
therefore purer.
My first race as an adult was
at Bridgehampton, watching Bob
Grossman come almost silently
over the hill at the end of the
straight in his SWB, already 100
yards ahead of a thundering herd
of American Iron Corvettes.
The upper limit of desire in
I've often said that classic cars are the most beautiful,
intriguing and interesting pieces of junk in the world
The next generation of
car guys (in four parts)
To the Editor:
Keith Martin's response to
Andrew Thomas' fantastic letter
(March 2012, “Shifting Gears,” p.
14) was spot-on, but I would like
to give an addendum. I have been
lucky enough to be around young
car guys recently, and their love
of all things automotive is not
much different than my own.
It is absolutely true that mod-
ern cars don't require wrenching
like our old mounts did, and it
is just as correct to point out the
changing social and technical
landscape we live in. So, while a
young person's first car may not
carry all the social benefits of
our day (just ask anyone under
the age of 30 if they've ever had
sex in their car!), there is still that
certain something about cars that
lights the fire in many a youth's
soul.
It is funny, in a way, that
while we dinosaurs bemoan the
changing nature of the collector
car world, we do so little to
investigate what the next generation
is interested in. I would
strongly advise the readers of
22
SCM to log in to Jalopnik on their
computers and subscribe (via
YouTube) to “Fast Lane Daily”
and the “Drive” channel. There
is a surprising amount of love
for old cars on these sites, and
while there may not be as great an
enthusiasm for wrenching, there
is certainly an appreciation for
the engineering cleverness and
stylistic design of the classics.
I've often said that classic cars
are the most beautiful, intriguing
and interesting pieces of junk in
the world. It is all relative, and
for good or evil, classic cars will
be viewed through the prism of
current reliability and security.
Fortunately, the next generation
can appreciate the madness and
inherent danger of our old cars
while tolerating their mechanical
quirks. Why? Because they
are historically important and,
frankly, gorgeous. The new car
guys may not be the same as us,
and that is a great thing. It's their
future, and they will design it
and live in it. All we can do is
preserve what we can and hand it
off to them over time. They'll do
with it as they will, and that's as it
should be.
On another subject, I'd
just like to thank your team in
Arizona for helping me with my
questions regarding my Platinum
account. Chester Allen and Rich
Coparanis were amazingly helpful,
quick and professional. You
have a WONDERFUL team and
every reason to be proud. You've
built a world-class organization,
and I wish you continued success.
— Charles Moseley, Weston, CT
The next generation of
car guys (Part Two)
To the Editor:
I am delighted to see that
Keith Martin has not lost his
willingness to tell things as he
sees them — even when it may be
a tad uncomfortable.
Keith brought me to this mag-
azine when he elected to tell “that
other” publication that he would
not give up that prerogative.
While I have had occasion to
disagree with SCM on various
specifics — and your tendency
to be cheerleaders for the auction
business — yours is the only auto
publication that now I read, after
60 years in the hobby.
Your response to Andrew
everything automotive for the
duration of my life was rooted in
that moment.
I have, since that time, owned,
watched, borrowed, been a passenger
in, a host of cars of every
type that are now the staples of
our generation's well-earned auto
lust.
So, there is no way for
Andrew's generation to have that
experience.
Your observations about what
it all means opened a view of reality
where, while serious (megacar?)
ownership and collections
will exist for years unknown,
there will be a huge change and
loss for the hobby as our generation
passes on.
I believe that, beyond the
seriously moneyed collector, the
hobby/collector/auction market
engine has been driven by a
unique circumstance, which is
the desire to own what we always
wanted — at every level.
I would submit that the hobby
will always be there, but in another
10 to 20 years it will look
vastly different.
I agree there will certainly be
“...fewer of them.” In my view, far
fewer, for how does one know the
passion without the experience?
— Dave Gunn, via email
The next generation of
car guys (Part Three)
To the Editor:
I'm just settling in with my
March edition of SCM, and I
read Andrew Thomas' letter
Sports Car Market

Page 22

You Write We Read
Ad Index
2shores International.................................. 149
Able Closures............................................... 79
Adam's Polishes, Inc.................................... 96
Advanced Retirement Income Solutions ... 129
All American Racers, Inc........................... 122
American Car Collector............................. 155
American Collector Specialties.................. 137
Aston Martin of New England................... 137
Auctions America................................... 21, 25
Automobilia Monterey............................... 149
Autosport Designs........................................ 65
Barrett-Jackson ............................................ 37
Bennett Law Office.................................... 122
Beverly Hills Car Club................................111
Bonhams ................................................ 27, 29
Branson Collector Car Auction.................... 45
Canepa.......................................................... 85
Car Guy Tour ............................................. 155
Carlisle Events ............................................. 69
Carrera Motors........................................... 107
Carriage House Motor Cars ........................... 7
Cascade Sotheby's Realty............................ 97
Chubb Personal Insurance............................ 89
Classic Motorcar Auctions......................... 135
Classic Restoration....................................... 77
Classic Showcase....................................... 105
Classy Chassis............................................ 125
Cobalt Automotive LLC ............................ 163
Collector Car Price Tracker ....................... 147
Collector Studio ......................................... 147
Cooper Classic Collection............................ 95
Copley Motorcars....................................... 142
Cosdel .......................................................... 98
Dana Point Concours d'Elegance .............. 103
DL George Coachworks............................. 149
Driversource Houston LLC................ 117, 143
European Collectibles ................................ 139
Fantasy Junction......................................... 113
Ferrari of Seattle .......................................... 49
Fourintune Garage Inc ............................... 157
General Racing........................................... 119
Gooding & Company..................................... 2
Grand Prix Classics - La Jolla CA............. 157
Gregor Fisken................................................. 8
Greystone Mansion Concours d'Elegance. 127
Grundy Insurance....................................... 145
Gullwing Motor Cars, Inc.......................... 141
Hagerty Insurance Agency, Inc. ............. 15, 17
Hamann Classic Cars................................... 93
Heacock Classic ............................................ 9
Heritage Classics.......................................... 67
Hyman, LTD ................................................ 81
Infinity Insurance Companies .................... 101
Intercity Lines .............................................. 33
JC Taylor.................................................... 121
JJ Best Banc & Co ..................................... 153
Kastner & Partners Garage .........................111
Keels and Wheels Concours ........................ 99
Kidston......................................................... 13
Len Rusiewicz............................................ 161
Live Oak Concours d'Elegance ................. 133
Louisville Concours................................... 109
Mac Neil Automotive Products Ltd............... 6
Mercedes Classic Center............................ 139
Mershon's World Of Cars ............................ 31
Miller's Mercedes Parts, Inc...................... 102
Motor Classic & Competition Corp........... 147
Northwest House of Hardtops...................... 71
Park Place LTD...........................................4-5
Paul Russell And Company ....................... 141
Planeclear..................................................... 41
Portland Swap Meet................................... 102
Premier Classic Car Collection............ 39, 164
Pro-Team Corvette Sales, Inc....................... 75
Putnam Leasing............................................ 51
Reliable Carriers .......................................... 63
RM Auctions ................................................ 23
Road Scholars ............................................ 123
Ron Tonkin Gran Turismo ........................... 35
RPM Autobooks......................................... 157
San Marino Motor Classic ........................... 38
Silver Collector Car Auctions ...................... 43
Sports & Specialist Cars ............................ 145
Sports Car Market...................................... 157
Steve Austin's Great Vacations .................. 112
Stoddard Vintage Porsche Parts................... 83
SWISSVAX AG........................................... 87
Symbolic Motor Car Co................................. 3
The Elegance At Hershey........................... 131
The Last Detail........................................... 113
The Masterpiece........................................... 91
The Stable, Ltd............................................. 73
Vintage Rallies........................................... 143
VintageAutoPosters.com............................ 157
Watchworks................................................ 161
Wisdom Marketing Group ........................... 19
Worldwide Group......................................... 11
Zymol......................................................... 115
24
You Write We Read
will view collector cars. Maybe,
to them, collector cars will be the
modern-day tuner cars? To me,
the modern cars with tricked-out
computers and turbos the size of
basketballs are just boring. They
just don't have personality. So, I
hope my generation will see the
value in these old animals. Then
again, if they don't, maybe I
will be able to afford getting my
hands on some top-grade classics.
— Miles Slattery, via email
Keith Martin responds:
I hope my generation will see the
value in these old animals. Then
again, if they don't, maybe I will be
able to afford getting my hands on
some top-grade classics
(“Shifting Gears,” p. 14) concerning
the younger generation and
their interest in collecting cars, so
I had to pass along this story.
While at Barrett-Jackson this
January, I approached a cluster of
representatives from Ford Motor
Company in the huge Ford display
area. My question to them
was: “Other than the Mustang,
what Ford product could I buy
with a manual transmission?”
One very knowledgeable rep-
resentative told me only the Ford
Focus and base model of the Ford
Fusion are offered with a stick.
The three, who ranged in age
from about 27 to 35, each made
a point of telling me younger
drivers are not learning to drive
manuals, and there is no demand
for cars with a clutch.
In the future, will this
younger generation pay big
dollars for a collector car when
they have no idea how to move
it down the road? Will knowing
how to shift through the gears
become a badge of honor and
put these younger collectors
in an elite group as owners of
these wonderful cars? Time will
tell, but maybe that automaticequipped
428 CJ Mach 1 or Hemi
'Cuda selling at a 25% discount
to its 4-speed brother today will
be the car to have in 20 years.
As always, thanks for your
wonderful publication. Reading
SCM is a favorite way to spend
a chilly January afternoon here
in Colorado. — Jeff Holliday,
via email
A real next-generation
car guy (Part Four)
To the Editor:
Well, I did the naughty task
of peeking at the March digital
copy just a bit ago. Normally
I look forward to sitting down
with a hard copy, but Keith
Martin's Shifting Gears column
(p. 14) caught my eye.
I am a 23-year-old recent col-
lege grad who can't get enough
of collector cars. I want to thank
Andrew for bringing this question
up since I wonder the same
thing all the time.
My obsession stems from
my father's love for cars and
everything mechanical. His
interest started in his teens while
wrenching on his father's cars.
He always tells me the story
of his first ride in a Porsche
Speedster and how it changed his
life; the rest is history. For me,
growing up consisted of fixing
— with his guidance — every
mechanical thing.
I learned to respect cars
for their bare bones — and the
experience they can offer. So, I
too wonder how my generation
This is just a small sampling
of the many letters and emails
we received about “The Next
Generation of Car Guys.” It's a
topic we'll be discussing for the
next 50 years, as each generation
replaces the next.
The Baby Boomers were
shaped by their first-hand
experiences with automobiles,
and there is no substitute for the
“duckling imprint” that comes
from adjusting an idle-mixture
screw yourself and feeling the
change in the engine, or moving
the engagement point of a clutch
by loosening a locknut and turning
a bolt, then tightening the nut
again.
I sometimes wonder what it
was like for cowboys when they
watched the first Model Ts arrive,
and saw how their children
were drawn to these new mechanical
marvels, and perhaps
suddenly had little interest in
learning how to shoe a horse.
And let's not forget the
changing environment that
cars live in. Personally, I would
gladly have an electrically
powered, self-driving Google
smart car take me to work each
day, and on shopping errands.
Why subject a vintage car such
as a Porsche 356, or Alfa Giulia
Spider Veloce or even a newer
car like a Lotus Elise to the
vicissitudes of daily urban traffic,
with monstrous SUVs piloted
by cell-phone chatting drivers?
Save the good cars for the good
roads and the good times.
The only sure way to help
create the Next Generation of
Car Guys (and Girls) is for each
of us to involve our children
(and other young people) in our
old-car experiences. We bought
our GTV so our 4-year-old could
ride in the back seat, and hopefully
the sound of dual Webers at
full chat will become part of his
DNA. ♦
Sports Car Market

In Miniature by Marshall Buck
1958 Scarab Mk I and Mk II Roadster
The front-engined Scarab
sports racers are among the
best-looking racing cars ever
built.
The Scarabs were the
brainchild of the young
aristocrat Lance Reventlow,
heir to the Revlon fortune.
The list of people involved in
their creation and racing career
reads like a Who's Who
of the American racing scene. These wonderful racers hold a significant
place in the history of American road racing of the 1950s and 1960s, a time
that many (myself included) love to read or reminisce about.
Only a handful of Scarab Mk I and Mk II models have been made. First
there was a 1:24 scale slot car and a model kit from the U.S. In the 1990s, a
few 1:43 hand-built models and kits from England were released. In 2000,
Hot Wheels made a “street” version in 1:43 scale.
The latest Scarab models on the market are in 1:43 scale and come from
Spark. Spark makes all of their models in China. All of their 1:43 pieces are
mid-volume, hand-built models, which sell at a very reasonable $60.
At first glance, the Spark models do look very good, but all three fail in
accuracy and fall into my “she sure is pretty” category. The models attempt
to replicate the following cars at specific races:
• The very first Scarab, the Mk I, was Reventlow's
ride. This model is presented as car number 16 as raced
at Palm Springs, CA, in 1958.
• The second car built, an Mk II, is presented in original form as
the 1958 Riverside-winning car of Chuck Daigh.
• Another version of the Mk II model is in purple, as it
was when Jim Jeffords drove the car for Nickey Chevrolet
at Meadowdale International Raceway in 1959.
The models are beautifully finished, and that simply makes
their inconsistencies even more frustrating. On one hand, they
are quite well researched, and on the other, they are not.
Speaking Volumes by Mark Wigginton
BMW: Ultimate Drives Volume 1: 1937–1982
By Jeremy Walton, Coterie, 208 pages, $39.95 (Amazon)
First-person accounts of
experiences can be a tricky
and demanding bit of writing.
The obvious challenge is communicating
a swirl of feelings,
emotions, impressions, noises
— the whole range of human
experience — in a way that
is anything but flat and a pale
imitation of the original. Let's
agree that having a dance described
to you is not much like
dancing.
In the automotive world,
the daring feat attempted by so
many is to communicate what
it's like to drive a certain car —
or set of cars. The monthly mags, of course, are all about this notion. This
usually results in an unsatisfying mush made up of equal parts engineering
description and overwrought prose built of automotive clichés. My particular
favorite is “the controls fall readily to hand.”
Like so many before him, auto journalist Jeremy Walton takes the chal-
lenge in BMW: Ultimate Drives, putting his driving skills and prose to the
test behind the wheel of 16 classic BMWs, from the 328 to the M1 (Volume
II promises later cars).
28
After decades of flogging various Bimmers around the
world, Walton picked the most important ones to revisit.
Each section devotes a good deal to the history of a particular
model, how it came to be and where it fits in the world.
Walton then takes us on a short test drive — some as brief as
a run to the pub, some extended cruises.
Displayed in mostly new photography, the cars shine, but
like most things in life, in the end you will wish you had
been a participant rather than a voyeur.
Provenance:
With 38 books to his credit and a long career as an auto
writer and editor, Walton knows how to get the facts right.
Fit and finish:
A handsome, large-format edition, filled with well-printed
color, Ultimate Drives won't disappoint you from a design
perspective. The typography is clean, although the layout and
type size don't make for relaxed reading of the text.
Drivability:
The world is filled with car guys who write. That is good for
all of us who want to know about the history, the glory and the
business of the automobile. There are fewer writers who are
car guys. It means, for the most part, you need to lower your
expectations for most automotive books —if you are looking at
them through the lens of literature. Walton is a sturdy journalist,
and he brings the reporting and facts you expect, but the
first-person driving experiences wind up as the least-effective,
least-interesting parts of the book. ♦
Sports Car Market
I'll just list some of
the good and the bad:
Overall body shape
is very well done, with
the exception of a toopointed
tail section on
all three models.
The Mk II models
have misplaced rear
vents, and there is a
wrong body bulge over
the right side header. The nose on the Mk IIs is captured very
well, but Spark also used the same nose on the Mk I, which
is wrong. However, Spark correctly caught the different door
panel lines on the Mk I.
Overall paint finish is great, so it is too bad that the shade
of blue is completely wrong, and the Nickey purple misses
as well. All of the decals for the delicate Von Dutch pinstriping
and other graphics are superb on all three models. It
is nice to see the Scarab emblem on the front of the Nickey
car, but it is absent on the other two!
The wheels are great, but Spark only made fronts and
Model Details
Production date: 2011
Quantity: About 3,000
(1,000 of each version)
SCM Five-Star Rating:
Overal Quality:
Authenticity: ½
Overall Value:
used them all around instead of the different rear wheels
that were installed on all three cars. Speaking of
wheels, the Nickey car never had black wheels.
Interiors on all three are an interesting mix of
reasonably good detail and imagination.
The Mk II models have the gear shift in the
½
Web: www.sparkmodel.com
wrong location, and all three cars are missing the
separate reverse gear lever. That said, the Nickey
car correctly features the later notch in the body
behind the driver seat and a bare passenger seat.
These are very good models, but they are not
great. They are available everywhere, including
on eBay.

Page 28

Affordable Classic Lotus Esprit Turbo SE
The “Pretty Woman” Lotus is a Winner
First and foremost, you can obtain a great Esprit Turbo for the price of a new
econo-box, hybrid-electric, egg-shaped sedan
by Stephen Serio
1989 Lotus Esprit Turbo
F
ew modern classics offer more performance and visual bang than a Lotus Esprit
Turbo SE. Somehow, this softened version — the less-aggressive, non-origami,
original shape — has aged gracefully over the past 20 or so years.
Peter Stevens gets credit for this design, with honorable mention to Julian
Thompson for the refreshing in 1994.
I'm going to focus on the Esprit SE seen in “Pretty
Woman” and ”Basic Instinct” instead of the Roger
Moore/James Bond Esprits for a number of reasons,
but most involve saving you money, preventing hair
loss and not worrying about dying by fire along the
roadside.
Julia Roberts' swagger — with street-walking
cred, coupled with her 60-second diatribe on why a
Lotus handles like it's on rails — in “Pretty Woman”
did for Lotus what “Goldfinger” and Sean Connery's
DB5 did for Aston Martin.
Say all you want about the importance of Formula
One and the credibility it can give street cars, but one
beautiful woman in a miniskirt on the big screen can
get you 10 times the brand recognition with one huge
smile and some clever stunt driving. Sharon Stone's
efforts in “Basic Instinct” shortly thereafter didn't
hurt the brand either. Hollywood did what it does
best —it stuck with a winner and used the Esprit
often.
30
Details
Years produced: 1989–95
Number produced: 1989–93 SE: 1,729
1994 S4: 385
1995 S4S: 64
Original list price: 1989 SE: $79,500
1993 SE: $67,345
1995 S4: $81,578
Current SCM Valuation: $15,000–$34,000
Tune-up cost: $2,400 for a “C Service,” which
includes timing belt
Distributor cap: (Coil pack ignition)
Chassis #: Inside front trunk against firewall
Engine #: Right rear of block above the
starter motor
Club: Lotus Ltd.
More: www.lotuscarclub.org
Alternatives:1983–85 Ferrari 308 GTS,
1986–88 Ferrari 328 GTB, 1997–2004
Jaguar XK8 Coupe
SCM Investment Grade: B
A better engine and better styling
I'm also a believer in the philosophy that the 4-banger
was a better lump than the next-generation, 8-cylinder
ride that was introduced in 1997. There is something to
be said for the simplicity, growl and performance characteristics
of the original 2.2-liter engine. If properly
maintained — there's the caveat in the fine print — these
engines will go forever. If abused and neglected, fewer
things will grenade themselves faster.
Much has been written about the S1/S2 and early
Giorgetto Giugiaro-designed Turbos that were built
from 1976 until 1987. The true early cars are — at best
— fragile and troublesome. I can feel the hate mail coming
from the true Church of Colin Chapman, but please
save your energy. The later cars are simply more reliable
rides that were designed and built by less-drunken volunteers.
(I mean the best Hethel engineers.)
Aside from the dated wedge shape on the early
Esprits (combined with their decals, stripes and BBS
wheels that really say “Disco, baby!”), these whips were
enormously compromised by their always-torn, cottonstitched
leather seats, troublesome Citroën gearboxes,
engines prone to overheating, the often-cracked, quasiplastic
bumpers and the frequently “I refuse to go up or
down” window regulators.
Sports Car Market

Page 29

Lots to love in the later cars
Now the good news about the 1989–95 Esprits:
First and foremost, you can obtain a great Esprit Turbo for the price
of a new econo-box, hybrid-electric, egg-shaped sedan. Just about
$20k gets you well into the ballpark for a stonking good 1989–91 car,
and if you spend $35,000, you will have one of the best Lotus Esprit
S4s in the country.
Or you could treat yourself to a race car disguised as a street ve-
hicle and find one of the 20 1991 X180Rs that originally sold for over
$130,000! Expect to pay $75k for one, and you'll never sell it.
In 1989, when the Turbo Esprit SE was launched, it produced 264
horsepower and was the most efficient engine per-liter offered to the
public. The car could also get you 0–60 mph in 4.7 seconds. You had
to spend quite a few more bucks to go just a tad quicker — think
Lamborghini Countach and Ferrari Testarossa.
Little changed through the next few years on this limited produc-
tion car; an airbag and ABS were added in 1990–91.
In 1993, the rear spoiler and deck lid (glass deleted) were changed.
1993½ gave us an all-new interior that was from the upcoming S4 —
along with doors now engineered to actually let a normal-size adult
in. Still, pity the woman in a short skirt who is trying to be a lady
while getting in and out of one of these things!
The 1994 S4 was restyled on the outside to give a smoother, more
modern feel, and it now came equipped with power steering, improved
shifter and smaller rear wing.
The 1995 S4s is the needle in the haystack to search for. Horsepower
was bumped to a whopping 300, and you could really wring all of it
out to a very pleasurable and thrilling level.
All of these cars are built on a galvanized backbone frame, with
a two-piece carbon fiber/fiberglass tub. They are enormously strong,
and they have proven to be very safe cars, even if they're crashed
at a high rate of speed. The engines are reliable, and the Renault
transmissions are fairly robust. The brakes, suspension and steering
components are all well engineered.
Well, they're not perfect
There are some negatives.
Because of the limited production and normal attrition, it may take
a while to find a really clean, documented and well-serviced example.
The airbag-equipped — from a Pontiac Trans Am — steering
wheel is not pretty, radiators clog easily and the charge cool impellers
need servicing (which rarely happens).
The belts need religious changing, and some parts are now difficult
to find. Leather dashboards shrink, and a poorly maintained Connolly
leather interior will turn into parchment paper.
Never, ever, ever, buy a car with a modified engine (rear exhaust
modification is OK), and never buy a crash-damaged, repaired car.
The frames are NOT meant to be straightened once damaged. Buyer
beware to the fool looking for the deal on the salvage-titled auction
special.
Lotus has a great club with a rabid enthusiast base. Get to know
who has a nice example, wrangle a ride, and go fall in love with your
first affordable exotic car. Buy one in Norfolk Mustard, British Racing
Green or Palacio (deep purple).
Find the right car, and it will feel like a Hollywood movie. ♦
1990 Lotus Esprit Turbo SE
April 2012
31

Page 30

Legal Files John Draneas
The Rest of the Stories — So Far
Litigation proceeds at a snail's pace, with time measured in glacial
proportions, until everyone is so worn down that they want to settle
Tim Durham
1996 Ferrari F50
Darla Lexington
and John O'Quinn
S
CM readers often ask Legal Files “Whatever
happened with...” It's difficult to follow through
on every story, but this month we were able to
get updates on several of our recent stories.
One of the biggest stories to come out of the 2010
Arizona auctions was the weather. Gale-force winds
ripped through the Scottsdale area and wreaked absolute
havoc at the Russo and Steele auction. The tents came
toppling down, lots of collector cars were damaged, and
numerous lawsuits followed.
Asked for a status update, Russo and Steele owner
Drew Alcazar said, “Well, the litigation is continuing.
We're still working on discovery, and everyone has their
experts doing their research and analysis. We might get
to a mediation this summer and trial next year.”
Yes, readers, that is how litigation proceeds — at a
snail's pace, with time measured in glacial proportions,
until everyone is so worn down that they want to settle
just to be able to move on.
But in spite of the depressing pace, there have been a
number of developments:
• All of the plaintiffs' claims against Russo and Steele
have been dismissed, and their claims are now
aimed solely at the tent company.
• Meanwhile, Russo and Steele has filed its own claim
against the tent company, looking to recoup its own
losses.
Alcazar said he is disappointed that, after having
a long and seemingly good relationship with the tent
company, they didn't do as much as he expected to work
things out amicably. That left him little recourse other
than to file his own claim.
But all is not woe. Alcazar is still amazed at the pro-
ductive attitude that most of his consignors displayed
when the 2010 auction was extended, and he feels that
the customer relationships that his company cultivated
over the years proved to be extremely strong.
Alcazar saw 2011 as the big challenge, and he felt
32
that his organization was under tremendous pressure to perform, which he thinks they
did. 2011 was extremely successful for Russo and Steele.
“The most gratifying thing about 2011 was that we were back to business as usual,
doing all the things we normally do,” Alcazar said. “People seem to think that if we
could take the beating we took and still come back strong, this is the place where they
need to be.”
Meanwhile, the litigation continues. Slowly.
The FBI Ferrari crash
Motors Insurance Corporation was ecstatic when the Ferrari F50 that was stolen
from their client in 2003 was recovered by the FBI in 2009. Motors had paid $625,000
on the claim, and they thought they would come a bit ahead, as the recovered F50
was then worth $750,000. When the FBI asked if they could hold onto the F50 for
evidentiary purposes, they were happy to cooperate.
Motors was aghast when they received word that the Ferrari had been totaled while
being driven by an FBI agent with an assistant U.S. attorney as passenger. The government
was not very forthcoming with answers to key questions, such as why the Ferrari
was being driven. Motors strongly suspect the car was out on a joyride.
Motors filed suit in federal district court, and the court recently ruled that the gov-
ernment could not be held liable for damages caused while the Ferrari was in government
custody. That is because the federal government cannot be sued except in cases
where it has consented to be sued. Under the Federal Tort Claims Act, the federal
government has agreed to allow itself to be sued for damages caused by its employees
and agents in the course of their employment. However, the government has retained
that immunity in situations where property is damaged while being detained by the
government. The court rejected Motors' argument that there was no detention because
they had consented to the FBI keeping the car.
The court did agree with observations made by Legal Files, such as that the FBI
agent could be held personally liable if he did take the car out on a joyride, as he
might then have been acting outside the scope of his employment and would not enjoy
protection from liability.
The court pointed out that Motors had made suggestions that this was a joyride,
but the company did not specifically allege that. But the court added that, even if that
specific allegation had been made, the suit would still have to be dismissed. If the FBI
agent was on a joyride, he would have been acting outside the scope of his employment,
and the government would have no liability anyway.
Given this result, it would seem that insurance companies might be more reluctant
to cooperate with the government in the future.
Sports Car Market

Page 31

Durham's Fair Finance
Indianapolis collector Tim Durham, who among other interests, owned 75% of
the now-defunct automotive magazine Car Collector, caused quite a splash after
being charged with running a huge Ponzi scheme out of his Fair Finance company.
Government prosecutors claim that Durham bilked more than 5,000 small mom-andpop
investors out of about $223 million. Durham had been considered a pillar of the
Indianapolis business community, and the charges brought attention to many politicians,
celebrities and business associates who were his friends.
The Fair Finance bankruptcy trustee has taken a very strong posture in trying to
recover monies that were allegedly taken from Fair Finance investors. The trustee has
now filed lawsuits totaling nearly $1.2 billion against a number of defendants.
The bulk of the claims are aimed at companies that financed Durham's operations.
Durham's mother is sticking by her son. She told WRTV-TV Channel 6 that her son's
financial problems were caused by his extremely generous nature.
“He's one of the most giving, kind people you will ever meet,” said. “That's where
he got into trouble, I think. He helped too many people.”
The authorities seem to think Durham might have helped himself more than others.
Durham has been indicted on charges of wire fraud, securities fraud and conspiracy.
His trial is scheduled to begin on June 8, 2012.
O'Quinn Estate settlement
Billionaire John O'Quinn made a fortune as one of the lead lawyers in tobacco
company class-action litigation. He later made a big splash in the collector car world,
as he quickly amassed a huge collection — with very high-profile purchases — at
major collector car auctions. He died in a freak car crash, leaving his estate a shambles.
It is a modern-day example of the “cobbler's son has no shoes” parable.
O'Quinn had a very close relationship with his longtime companion Darla
Lexington. They lived together and appeared to be husband and wife, but they never
married.
In spite of numerous indications that he wanted to provide for her, and that he
wanted his car collection to be kept in a museum, his will had never been updated.
It left everything to a private foundation he had established before becoming one of
the country's largest car collectors. The foundation's
charitable purposes could not support the establishment
of an automobile museum. That left Lexington with an
estimated $5 million life insurance policy and nothing
else.
Legal Files reported on the legal battle over
O'Quinn's cars. Lexington sought to prevent their sale at
auction on the basis that it was against O'Quinn's wishes
— and that she owned several of the cars intended to
be sold, as O'Quinn had given them to her. The court
refused to prevent the sales, as none of the cars had been
titled in her name, and Lexington's lawsuit continued at
a slower pace.
It was reported in early January that Lexington and
O'Quinn's Estate had reached a settlement. The parties
have declined to describe the terms of the settlement,
although it has been indicated that she will receive a
number of the remaining cars. There have been rumors
that the value of the settlement is in the $25 million to
$40 million range, but Legal Files has been unable to
confirm any details.
The O'Quinn saga is a clear example of the need for
good estate planning. No one expects to die the next day,
but collectors should keep their estate plans current to
protect against the unexpected. Planning for the preservation
or disposition of our collections is not an easy
task, and it should not be left to our survivors to find a
way to achieve our objectives. ♦
JOHN DRANEAS is an attorney in Oregon. His comments
are general in nature and are not intended to
substitute for consultation with an attorney.
April 2012
33

Page 32

ARIZONA RECAP AUCTION ROUNDTABLE
Top Picks from the Desert
Auction company principals pick favorite cars from their lineups — and from
the competition's
Furthermore, Preston Tucker was a visionary and conceived of and
built cars that were at least 10 years ahead of their time. From the center
directional headlight to the rear-engine power train configuration with
fuel injection, everything about the Tucker is revolutionary, especially
when you consider when it was built.
Just looking at its streamlined exterior design, one can appreciate
the Tucker Torpedo's muscular-yet-elegant styling. It's a shame these
cars never saw mass production.
Speaking of elegant styling, my pick for favorite vehicle from a
1933 Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow
David Gooding
President, Gooding & Company
Santa Monica, CA
We enjoyed a fantastic Scottsdale auction, with 13 record-breaking
cars, 98% of all consignments sold, more
than $39.8 million in sales and the top-selling lot of auction
week for a fifth year in a row: the $4.62m MercedesBenz
300SL alloy Gullwing.
One of my favorite cars from our auction was the
1929 Bentley 4½ Litre Dual Cowl Sports Tourer with
coachwork by Vanden Plas. An important Bentley, it
was formerly owned by two well-respected collectors and is in excellent
condition, retaining its original body, matching-numbers engine and
thoroughly documented provenance. We were delighted to see this car
soar above its high estimate by 43%, selling for $2.14m
A favorite car from another auction house would have to be the 1933
Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow that Barrett-Jackson brought to the market.
Before its $2.2m sale in Scottsdale, it had been decades since one of
the three surviving examples had come up for public sale. The Silver
Arrow is an extremely important American Classic and has a special
place in design history. Its futuristic design ideas were adopted by some
of the greatest automotive stylists well into the post-war period. These
strong sales continue to underscore collectors' demand for top-quality
examples of the world's greatest cars.
1967 Ferrari 330 GTC
Drew Alcazar
President, Russo and Steele
Scottsdale, AZ
Russo and Steele has continuously shown extremely
strong sales results in the production-cars segment of
the exotic sports car market. In Scottsdale 2012, Russo
and Steele further solidified its position in the marketplace
for production European sports cars with the record-breaking
sale of the 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC, s/n
8843, for $429,000.
Having owned and enjoyed over half a dozen GTCs,
1948 Tucker Torpedo
Craig Jackson
Chairman and CEO, Barrett-Jackson
Scottsdale, AZ
My favorite car from the 2012 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale
Auction is hands-down the 1948 Tucker Torpedo from
the Ron Pratte Collection. I choose this vehicle not because
it fetched the highest selling price at the auction
— it brought $2.9m —but because it represents an underdog
story that will forever be celebrated in automotive
history.
34
their appeal as a comfortable Ferrari makes them my steed of choice for
road rallies. Amenities such as air conditioning and room for storage in
both the rear boot and behind the passenger seats support the fashion
requisites for the Copperstate 1000 and every other rally. This broad
market appeal, in addition to the visually stunning, quality restoration
of our 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC, launched the sales result to world-record
heights.
Across town, no one can deny the impact of the arrival of Gordon
McCall at Barrett-Jackson. Gordon's prowess in the marketplace was
brilliantly showcased with the Salon offerings at WestWorld. The sales
results were the talk of the town of Collector Car Week. Gordon's impact
and the arrival of Bonhams to the Scottsdale landscape — with strong
sales — serve as the most noteworthy elements of my contemporaries'
events.
Sports Car Market
competing auction is the alloy-bodied 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL
Gullwing that sold for $4.62m at Gooding. Only 29 of these were ever
built. The sale of this car at Gooding helped build excitement for the
$2.2m sale of the 1954 300SL Gullwing we offered as part of our Salon
Offering Collection. It is the lowest-mileage example known to exist.

Page 33

FIVE CARS ON A BIG BUDGET ARIZONA RECAP
1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso Berlinetta
Shelby Myers
Director, RM Auctions West Coast Division
RM Auctions, Blenheim, Ontario
We're very happy with our Arizona sale this year. It
featured one of the best selections of quality cars we've
ever presented in Arizona, and it achieved a very strong
average sales price.
Although there were many to choose from in our
Arizona lineup, one of my personal favorites was the
1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso Berlinetta, which sold for
$979k. I love cars that carry a unique history and story,
and this car is a great example. An entrant in the 1964 Targa Florio,
recipient of multiple FCA Platinum awards and a Pebble Beach class
award winner, it satisfied all the criteria when it comes to desirability.
It was offered in wonderful condition, and the images from the 1964
Targa Florio brought it to life. In today's market of high-priced Ferrari
cars, the Lusso still represents great value, considering it is essentially
the same platform as a Ferrari 250 SWB Berlinetta, which can be three
to four times the price.
Of the other auction houses, my personal favorite was the 1930
Rolls-Royce Phantom I Transformal Phaeton from Bonhams' inaugural
Arizona sale, which sold for $524k. Again, this car had a wonderful
history, and the historic images were captivating, including those of
Marlene Dietrich. As a lover of great design, this car was a standout,
both elegant and sporting, particularly the tapered rear end. It brought a
fair price. My hat is off to Bonhams' team for a great debut sale.
Rolls-Royce Phantom I Transformal Phaeton
David Swig
North America Car Specialist, Bonhams
San Francisco, CA
Bonhams' inaugural Scottsdale sale at the Westin
Kierland Resort & Spa was a memorable one indeed!
Among the fine motorcars highlighted at our sale, one
stood out. It is the ex-Marlene Dietrich Rolls-Royce
Phantom I Transformal Phaeton. Sporting elegant open
coachwork by Hibbard & Darrin — and a history that is
second to none — it is considered one of the most desirable
Phantom Is in the world.
Our competitors presented such a vast array of fine machinery, it is
impossible to choose a favorite. Judging from the results, MercedesBenz
seemed to be the flavor of the month — 300SL Gullwings in
particular. We must commend all of our competitors on their stellar
performances. Bonhams sincerely looks forward to our return to the
Arizona market for many years to come. ♦
April 2012
35

Page 34

ARIZONA RECAP FIRST-TIMER THOUGHTS
Gleaming, Fascinating Moving Objects
The first Baby Boomers are now buying the shiny objects of nostalgia — cars
— from their childhoods
by Robert Cumberford
Shiny and attractive, to be sure, but objects of compelling desire? To each his own
S
36
hiny inanimate objects fascinate living beings. That's true for
thieving magpies, pack rats, and — above all — for humans.
From the first time an opposable-thumb primate picked up a glittering
seashell simply to admire it, on through our prehistoric
ancestors seeking and keeping translucent stones, we have cherished
scintillating reflecting surfaces — ideally on objects we can hold in our
hands. When, a few hundred years back, we were exposed to constructs
that were not only shiny but also had moving parts, we were mesmerized.
Who can look at the works of a clock, a watch or a steam engine in
motion and not be entranced?
So it is not too surprising that the automobile should become an
object of acquisitive desire. Cars are for the most part shiny, they move,
and they can accept a tremendous amount of non-functional decoration.
Even so, cars were for a very long time only seen as transient useful
objects, not collectibles. I can remember Duesenbergs on offer for $500
when I was a child, and not a few of them went to scrap yards because
there was so much recoverable metal in them.
Talismans of youth
It is really only in the past 50 years that we have seen serious inter-
est in preserving older cars — in good working order — in the United
States. Part of the reason lies with the huge population bulge we now
call the Baby Boomers. The first of that immediate post-World War II
coterie is now at retirement age, and a great part of the group is prosper-
ous enough to buy the shiny objects of nostalgia they covet as talismans
of their youth.
Science fiction writer William Gibson, writing about his own obses-
sion with mechanical watches, celebrated that they are “so brilliantly
unnecessary.” He also noted that Baby Boomers' toys were often
ephemeral plastic things long since reduced to nothingness.
But their daddies' cars are still here, and they represent semi-useful
possessions. Or so they can tell each other — and almost believe it.
There must have been at least 10,000 Boomers at Arizona Auction
Week in January, and as you can see from the results, they spent tens
of millions of dollars on vehicles they never intend to use for practical
transport.
Too much to admire?
The auction scene in Arizona was all new to me. It might have been
overwhelming, with literally thousands of cars on offer, were it not
for the fact that so few were really what I would consider collectibles.
Thousands of cars, hundreds of trucks (trucks?), and many tons of
automobilia changed proprietors, but I would put objects of true collectible
value at considerably less than half the total. Once you modify
your mass-market, never-rare '57 Chevy in any way at all, it ceases to
be a historical artifact and becomes essentially just a used car, however
much someone may pay when it crosses the block. The “matchingnumbers”
mantra is tiresome, but there really is value in originality and
Sports Car Market
Tony Piff

Page 36

ARIZONA RECAP FIRST-TIMER THOUGHTS
authenticity.
I was really surprised that I admired hundreds of cars, but not one
compelled desire. For me, the plenitude of vehicles in Arizona was as
big a turn-off as an eight-page, small-print dinner menu offering so
many things that appetite dissipates at the mere thought of choosing.
I suspect that a more restrained offering might have had me fidgeting
with my wallet. After all, I only have three project cars and two drivers,
and there were many truly worthy machines at “reasonable” prices I
could easily convince myself I “really need.” As did not a few other
people during that high-energy week.
People-watching
As fascinating as the multifarious vehicles at the main auctions were,
I was more entranced by the attending crowds. Family values were
extremely high; I saw dozens of late-middle-aged men who were kind
enough to bring their “nieces” to the auctions. These girls profited from
the mild Arizona weather to wear their skimpiest summer dresses in
January, especially at the gala in a giant tent generously organized by
Barrett-Jackson to start off the week of buying frenzy. There were a few
children, so the look-but-don't-touch rules were fairly well respected,
but the 50-somethings who seemed to predominate still left plenty of
fingerprints.
Crowds seemed to sort themselves out autonomously according to
social class and age; witness the stand for Hillbilly Auto Transport at the
Silver auction at Fort McDowell. This auction catered to high-volume
production cars, primarily American models. Seemingly the auction's
name is not derived from a person, as I had supposed, but from the
buyers' hair color.
Cars on offer at this auction were unassuming, and few were of any
real interest to me.
Gooding's buyers were better-dressed, slightly younger and far more
restrained, and the cars were not so mainstream. I would have cheerfully
accepted about 75% of the 118 lots if one had been proposed as a gift.
But not the fake
hot rod, Herbie the
Love Bug, nor the
American Bantam.
The smaller
group of cars at
Bonhams — 67
units — was also
excellent. I was intrigued
with a '54
Porsche coupe that
went for $93,600.
The Porsche was
virtually identical
to one I traded in for a VW bus long ago (for about $1,200, I think). Sic
transit gloria mundi...
The auctioneers' verbal styles were highly diverse, with some almost
1954 Porsche — once a straight trade for a VW bus
incomprehensible, while others were clear, soothing and obviously successfully
encouraging.
Bidding seems to be a blood sport in some cases, and I could see
how one could be caught up in a frenzy of jousting with someone else
who wants the same thing. I came away feeling that most of the cars
(and pickups) were sold for more than they could possibly bring in a
one-on-one purchase deal. But it all seemed perfectly fair, since no one
parted with more than he or she was willing to pay, and if there might
have been a few cases of buyer's remorse after the euphoria of the events
was finished, the auctions do provide a market that is accurate at one
place and time.
Everyone had a good time looking at cars, talking about cars and
buying and selling cars, yet Arizona in January seems to boil down to
why so many humans love old cars: They are brilliant, unnecessary —
yet important — parts of our lives. We look at the shiny surfaces and see
the past in the present. ♦
38
Sports Car Market

Page 38

ARIZONA RECAP 2012 CONSIGNMENT TOURS
SCMers Get an Insider's View at RM
and Gooding
SCM Senior Analyst Carl Bomstead guides SCMers among the fine cars during the Gooding & Company consignment tour
RM Auctions
S
CM's Arizona Platinum consignment tours continued the tradition
of exclusive, behind-the-scenes previews on January 19 at
RM Auctions. A group of RM collector car experts joined SCM
Senior Auction Analyst Carl Bomstead and a more-than-ready
group of 20 SCM Platinum members to take a look at the cars spread
around the Biltmore Hotel grounds.
The group saw and discussed vehicles with singular features: a
1959 BMW 507 roadster redone by RM's own restoration shop, the
1957 Maserati 3500 GT Paris Show car, the only 1957 Ferrari 410
Superamerica bodied by Scaglietti, and a 1954 Chevrolet Corvette
with a plastic bubbletop that evoked many of GM's 1950s dream cars.
Bomstead's favorite was a 1931 Chrysler CG Imperial bodied by
Waterhouse in black and caramel. The owner — who poured more than
6,000 hours into its restoration — was on hand to tell the story.
Peter Wallman, RM car specialist, commented on a question about
buying a restored car versus restoring it, “If you can afford to buy the
best, then you buy the best. Somebody else has spent the money and
had the hassle.”
Many SCMers asked about how auction reserve prices are set.
Wallman stepped in, “It's futile to take cars to auction and not sell
them,” he said.
Does it offer any advantage to the seller to have no reserve?
“Absolutely. It creates a lot of interest. No reserve tends to be a lot more
popular,” Wallman said.
40
Gooding & Company
The Platinum members reconvened later Thursday afternoon at
Scottsdale Fashion Square for Gooding & Company's consignment
tour. Carl Bomstead was again the SCM guide, and Garth Hammers,
Gooding consignment specialist, was his wingman.
David Gooding took time from his hectic schedule to meet every-
body and start the tour at the Moretti collection of Packards. Auction
reserve prices were still on the minds of many SCMers in this tour. A
member asked Gooding how his company sets reserves for the cars.
“Our policy is reserve at low- or below-estimate,” Gooding said.
Bomstead and Hammers guided the tour through Gooding &
Company's Scottsdale lineup, and they pointed out special cars, such
as the only unrestored Monaco Orange 1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88
coupe, a one-of-two white 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spyder
and a 1958 BMW 507 roadster that was in the same collection for 30
years.
The tour ended at Gooding's prize Arizona consignment, a 1955
Mercedes-Benz 300SL alloy Gullwing. Hammers showed SCMers the
difference between an alloy Gullwing versus a steel Gullwing — short
of slapping a magnet on the body. Hammers said alloys are worth about
three times more than steel-bodied examples. Not quite right, it turns out,
as the alloy Gullwing ended up selling for $4.6m, on Friday, January
20, and a steel-bodied Gullwing sold for $869,000 later in the
afternoon. An enlightening afternoon for all involved. ♦
— Chad Tyson
Sports Car Market
Jim Pickering

Page 40

Collecting Thoughts 1948 Tucker Model 48 Torpedo
Tuckers Soaring 64 Years After Splattering
A restored Tucker selling for almost $3m — just in the price range of a
Ferrari California Spyder — was shocking for many people
by Ken Gross
This 1948 Tucker Torpedo was the high sale for Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale. At $2.9m, it marks a trebling of Tucker values as rarity bolsters interest
I
n 1948, Preston Tucker introduced a radical new car
— one with a rear-mounted engine, safety belts and
rocket-ship styling.
The car was fast and powerful — and sold
for $2,450, which was less expensive than a Cadillac.
Orders poured in, but only 51 were made. Eventually,
legal woes derailed Tucker's business.
Now, 64 years after the Tucker Model 48 Torpedo
soared — and then crashed — a restored Tucker Model
48 sold for $2.9m at Barrett-Jackson's 2012 Scottsdale
auction.
How did Tuckers rise from the basement to the penthouse?
And will Tucker values continue to rise?
Folk hero or fraud?
Preston Tucker, of Ypsilanti, MI, remains something
akin to an automotive folk hero. He first gained fame
when he paired the unlikely duo of Henry Miller and
Henry Ford to build innovative front-drive, flatheadFord-powered
two-man race cars for the 1935 Indy 500.
During World War II, Tucker's high-speed command
car project failed to impress the Army brass, but his
electrically driven gun turret was a profitable venture.
When the war ended, he was thinking even bigger.
Tucker's plan for a radical post-war car first appeared
in the December 1946 issue of Science Illustrated magazine.
Defying convention with an unusual design, the
Tucker was to be a full-size sedan powered by a rearmounted,
air-cooled 589-ci flat six. For his futuristic
dream car, Tucker considered Kinmont “Safe-Stop” disc
brakes, and he wanted a 4-speed gearbox.
42
Because of rapidly rising costs and a shortened development timeline, the Tucker's
actual engine, a horizontally-opposed, 334-ci OHV six, was adapted from an aluminum
Franklin/Aircooled Motors helicopter engine, which was then converted to
water cooling. Tucker's disc brake plans were dropped, as they were too expensive.
After rebuilding a few secondhand Cord 810/812 gearboxes, Tucker developed its
own 4-speed based on the Cord design, with a Bendix vacuum-electric pre-selector.
Tucker's “Torsiolastic” suspension featured independent front A-arms and rear trailing
links, all hinged in rubber.
Torque and speed
In an era when most production sedans had 100 to 125 horsepower, the Tucker's
understressed 166 horsepower at 3,200 rpm and whopping 372 ft/lbs of torque meant
that the 4,235-pound Model 48 was easily the fastest American car of its time.
Legendary automotive writer Ken W. Purdy claimed to have driven a Tucker more
than 125 mph. The Marquis de Portago, a famous Grand Prix driver, reportedly topped
131 mph in a Tucker test at Sebring.
Mechanix Illustrated's pioneer road tester Tom McCahill raved about the Tucker's
10-second 0–60 mph time. McCahill called it one of “the greatest performing automobiles
ever built on this side of the Atlantic.” In comparison, a 1948 Cadillac with a
150-hp flathead V8 hit 0–60 mph in about 13 seconds and had a 100-mph top speed.
Tucker's prodigious torque rating wouldn't be topped for years. With rocket-ship
styling by Alex Tremulis, that rear-mounted engine, aircraft-style doors, a pop-out
windshield, swiveling center “Cyclops” headlight, standard seat belts and padded
“safety chamber,” there was nothing like it on the road.
The “Car of Tomorrow” was an instant hit. Tucker's $2,450 price tag undercut
Cadillac's popular Model 62 sedan by about $500, which was a big difference in 1948.
Only 51 built
But the rear-engine Torpedo never reached true production. When the Tucker
plant closed in mid-1948, only 37 pilot models had been completed. Loyal workers
assembled another 14 cars. Of the 51 cars built, 47 have survived.
Sports Car Market
Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson

Page 42

Collecting Thoughts 1948 Tucker Model 48 Torpedo
A manifestation of American post-war optimism
Stories abound about the short-lived Tucker venture.
People persist in thinking that the major automakers were
determined to kill off this upstart competitor and that “a
loosely-organized conspiracy between the carmakers, the
Securities and Exchange Commission and the Chicago
District Attorney's office brought him down.”
Tucker was said to be a devious, flamboyant self-
promoter who misappropriated funds, spent lavishly
and never intended to build cars. But little of that is true.
What's the real story?
I'm convinced Preston Tucker was fundamentally
naïve about business. His effort was seriously underfunded;
his flamboyant style annoyed the powers that
be; the hastily-built cars were insufficiently developed,
and he was very unlucky.
After the SEC indicted Tucker for alleged stock fraud,
his plant was closed and all his records were seized.
Despite the fact that he was acquitted of all charges, the
devastating publicity and a lack of funds doomed efforts
to resume production. Following an ill-fated attempt to
build a car called the Carioca in South America, Preston
Tucker died of lung cancer in 1956.
The 1988 Francis Ford Coppola film, “Tucker: The
Man and his Dream,” fluffed up a few details, but it captured
the romance and excitement of the Tucker saga,
and it enthralled audiences with its “little guy against
the Detroit establishment” mythos. Not surprisingly,
Tucker prices began to accelerate upwards after the
movie came out.
The late Tom Sparks, a legendary hot rodder and
crack mechanic, maintained the fleet of borrowed
Tuckers for Coppola's film.
“The transmissions were the weak link,” Sparks
said, “because of repetitive electrical and vacuum problems
with the shift actuators.” Sparks reported that the
Tucker's powerful flat six was “the best part of the car.
… It accelerated fast and could easily beat any American
sedan of that era.”
As the guest curator for the popular exhibition
“Allure of the Automobile,” which appeared at the High
Museum of Art in Atlanta in 2010 and the Portland Art
Museum in 2011 (SCM was a sponsor of the Portland
exhibition), I included a Tucker because I felt it represented
the boundless optimism, engineering exuberance
44
With 166 horsepower, the Tucker was the fastest American car of its time
and aircraft-inspired styling of the post-World War II period.
This car, Tucker number 1043, from the Ron Pratte collection, sold for $2.915 mil-
lion at the January 2012 Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, AZ.
The winning bidder was Ted McIntyre, owner of Marine Turbine Technologies and
builder of Jay Leno's jet-powered motorcycle.
“Preston Tucker had to raise capital, engineer a completely new car, fight the Detroit
guys who were out to get him, and bring it to market,” McIntyre said. “I have a real
appreciation for what he did, and it's exciting to own a car that's part of that legacy.”
Values still climbing
With this $2.9m sale at Barrett-Jackson, Tucker values, already in the low $1m
range, have trebled. This car was a well-restored example, although the rear end sat
a tad high, possibly because of new rear springs that hadn't yet settled — or a front
suspension that already had. The “Waltz Blue” finish showed off the car's lines well.
(That hue is said to be the color of Preston Tucker's wife's favorite gown.)
This car was the highest-priced sale at Barrett-Jackson.
“This was a great car and it's the first time a Tucker had been on sale for quite a
while,” Craig Jackson said. “Some strong buyers were here specifically for that car.
They knew what they wanted and they were out to get it.”
So why are Tuckers now soaring — 64 years after they came off the assembly line?
Rarity is the biggest reason. A total of 51 were built and 47 survive. Try to find one.
Tuckers aren't popular because they're great drivers. I can attest to that. With its
rear-mounted engine on a long, 130-inch wheelbase, and lopsided 42% front/58% rear
weight distribution, the Tucker feels ponderous. Its steering is vague. It oversteers at
the slightest provocation. The ride is 1940s-era Sealy Posturepedic. But under hard
acceleration, the six flashy chrome exhaust pipes blat like a big Chris-Craft runabout,
the nose lifts, the Tucker accelerates surprisingly quickly, and the looks you get are
priceless.
Could Tucker have forced the “Big Three” into rear-engine designs had sales suc-
ceeded? We think not. Ten years later, the Chevrolet Corvair, despite its air-cooled flat
six, was a dead-end for GM. But fueled by Coppola's film and a legion of local owners
and club members, the Tucker's poignant tale lives on as a romantic lost cause.
We saw higher prices coming when Gooding & Company sold a beater Tucker
that needed everything — this barn-find car sported beaucoup Bondo and was not
in running condition — for $797,500 at Scottsdale in 2011. Another Tucker, chassis
1045, sold for $1,127,500 at RM's 2010 Monterey auction. This car was in very good
condition.
Still, a restored Tucker selling for almost $3m — just in the price range of a Ferrari
California Spyder — was shocking for many people — but not for Craig Jackson.
“Everybody knows the Tucker story,” Jackson said. “He tried to persevere against
tough odds. The car had a lot of safety improvements, it was ahead of its time, and
there's a full-length motion picture about it.”
Jackson thinks Tucker prices will continue upward. I think he's probably right.
So while I'd have to call this Tucker very well sold, I think time may prove that it
was equally well bought. ♦
Sports Car Market

SCM
Digital Bonus
a special Ferrari. Enzo suggested that he might like a
410 Superamerica with a special body by Carrozzeria
Scaglietti. An agreement was reached, and Scaglietti
provided a spectacular 410 that slightly resembled a
250 Tour de France — but with a brushed stainlesssteel
roof, tailfins and rocker trim.
About 17 years later, eminent Ferrari collector
Ed Niles responded to a 1973 Los Angeles Times
ad for the car. Niles reported that the car came to
California through an estate in Texas, and he passed
on it because it was “smoking ferociously.”He also
noted that the car did not resemble the pictures that
he had seen of it. He later found out that Carrozzeria
Boano had modified the car for a previous owner.
Among other things, the nose had been elongated,
covered headlights added, the stainless steel fins
painted body color and the dash redesigned.
Stolen and stripped
Shortly after the car was advertised in the Times,
it was reported stolen. Sightings of the famous car circulated throughout the Ferrari
world, and it appeared to be somewhere in Oregon. The rumors reached the ear of
Ferrari collector Greg Garrison. Garrison was the producer of the Dean Martin show
and other popular television shows of the era. He had a passion for coachbuilt cars,
and he set his sights on tracking down 0671SA.
He placed a want ad in every daily newspaper in Oregon. The ad featured a picture
of 0671SA and offered a $1,000 donation to charity for information leading to the
purchase of the car. Garrison hit pay dirt when a tipster revealed its location after
$500 cash was added to the reward.
By the time Garrison got to the car, the thief had tried to disguise it by removing
the body and interior and allegedly throwing those parts in a lake. The chassis with
drivetrain had been sold to a farmer, who had plans to use it as some type of tractor.
A deal with all involved parties was put together, and a few days later the chassis was
on its way to Italy for restoration.
Mr. Garrison was a friend of the Ferrari factory and had produced a muscular
dystrophy benefit that honored Dino Ferrari. The event raised $6 million for the charity,
and shortly afterward, Garrison received a request to meet with Enzo Ferrari. At
the meeting, Garrison showed Ferrari a picture of 0671SA and mentioned the car was
in Italy, where it was to be restored.
A half hour later, Garrison was at lunch, when he was surprised by a delegation
that included Sergio Scaglietti, who announced that they were at his disposal to complete
the restoration of the car.
Restored to Pebble Beach splendor
The car was restored to its original configuration
with Scaglietti's assistance, and upon completion was
returned to California, where it won its class at the
Pebble Beach Concours four weeks later. The car remained
a prized possession of Mr. Garrison until his
death in 2005.
SCM's Platinum database shows 0671SA selling at
Gooding & Company's 2007 Monterey auction for $1.3m.
The current configuration of 0671SA seems to be very
authentic to the original, but it is understandable why
a previous owner modified the car. The tail fins look
like an afterthought, the center-mounted gauges are
not practical, and the covered headlights were more
attractive than the original open ones. Pictures of the
original body show the tail fins and roof with a brush
finish. However, they are engine-turned in the current
configuration.
Early Ferraris are hot, and the nearly $500k jump
that 0671SA made from 2007 to 2012 confirms the
trend. 0671SA may be the most famous of all the 410
Superamericas, but it is not the most valuable.
The late Series III cars have a few refinements that
give them a little extra favor in the marketplace, and our
subject car's rebody surely limits suitors.
At RM's sale on January 20, the car sold slightly out
of its estimate but still within reason. The seller got a
few extra bucks, but the buyer didn't overpay. There
will always be collectors for coachbuilt Ferraris — and
there are few cars to be had. This is a wonderful car
with a great story. As coachbuilt Ferraris go, the buyer
couldn't do much better. Put this one in the well-bought
column. ♦
(Introductory description courtesy of RM Auctions.)
SCM Digital Bonus. Additional images and more...
April 2012
47
Courtesy of Dyke Ridgley

Page 46

Ferrari Profile
The Cumberford Perspective
Awkward magnificence on an extraordinary Ferrari chassis
By Robert Cumberford
T
he Superamerica chassis
was extraordinary in 1957,
but this particular body is
astonishingly inept in sur-
face development and detailing.
It tends to confirm a long-held
suspicion that Sergio Scaglietti,
however brilliant he was in creating
competition car bodies —
and he was the very best at that
task, surpassing even Bianchi
Anderloni's early Touring barchettas
and coupes — was not
really suited to creating refined
road cars. This Superamerica is a
magnificent machine, and few of
us would not be delighted to possess
it, but it is nonetheless partly
awkward and clumsy.
Consider the 1951 Studebaker
headlamp rims. No, these are not
actually N.O.S. South Bend parts
as far as I can tell, as they are
slightly more pointed toward the
bottom than the Raymond Loewy
originals, but there is no question
that their design was taken without
scruple and without success.
Add in the too-flat, too-inclined
roof panel, the garish add-on,
engine-turned bright metal fins
and the railway-inspired end-ofline
buffers, and a lot of the usual
Ferrari charm melts away.
Look carefully at the front
fender profile that flattens into
a straight line above a pouchy,
puffy fender underside ahead of
the wheelhouse, the kitschy perforated
sill trim and the big shiny
grille in the fender side, and you
can't help wishing that the last
part of the shaping had been directed
by Battista “Pinin” Farina
himself, master of classicism and
coherent, cohesive form. ♦
12
5
2
3
4
10
11
6
1
FRONT 3/4 VIEW
1 No, these are probably not
interchangeable with 1951
Studebaker lamp bezels, but they
might as well have been, because
the composition is identical.
2 The roof panel is rather flat
transversely, and its highest
point is just a few inches aft of
the upper edge of the windshield
frame.
3 The hood scoop really seems
just to have been plopped on
top, without much regard for the
shape of the nose or the base of
windshield curve.
4 The front 18 inches of the
fender becomes a bit too straight
as seen from this angle, and the
upper fender profile goes wrong at
the leading edge of the door.
5 The nose seems to flatten out
ahead of the hood cut, with the
7
8
grille and its surrounding sheet
metal recapitulating a Formula
One car nose, separate from the
fenders.
6 The rubber-tipped buttresses
no doubt provide a little parking
protection, but they are ungainly
and inelegant.
REAR 3/4 VIEW
7 The beautifully textured roof
panel is a masterpiece of craftsmanship
but not of form. It is too
flat and drops too quickly toward
the rear.
8 Fins were common in the late
1950s, and some were better
integrated than others (Chrysler,
for example), but these are just
stuck on, neither respecting nor
enhancing the body form.
9 Protruding exhaust pipes really
do need protection. One can only
imagine the splendid sounds ema-
nating from them. A radio wasn't
installed — or needed.
10 If the exhaust pipes actually
did run under the sills, these vent
holes were probably necessary.
But were they really far outboard,
or was this just overblown styling?
11 These grilles look more like
the back panels of a refrigerator
than carefully designed outlets for
engine compartment air.
12 Notice that while there is a bit
of crown in the window molding,
the profile drops from the upper
front corner, putting the high
point for headroom well ahead
of the driver's and passenger's
heads.
INTERIOR VIEW
(see previous page)
The steering wheel is wonder-
ful, the seats are nice, and the
door panels are OK, but the
Chairman Mao-style diagonal
quilting on the tunnel, bottom of
instrument panel and side of the
foot wells is seriously inelegant.
This open slot is ideal for
sunglasses but has a saggy bottom
curve. Altogether this is a very
disappointing, amateurish cabin.
The black crackle-finish
11
48
10
9
instrument panel is ergonomically
incorrect, with tach and
speedometer in center, and it is
cheap-looking to boot.
Sports Car Market

Page 48

Sheehan Speaks Michael Sheehan
So Many Ferraris, So Many Auctions
The 1952 Pininfarina-bodied 342 America sold for $633k, which is
a bargain for a ticket to the lawn at Pebble Beach
A 1965 275 GTS, s/n 7885, brought
$770k, and a 1973 365 GTB/4 Daytona,
s/n 16965, brought $391k. All were
strong prices in what is clearly a strong
market.
More strong Ferrari sales
RM Auctions offered the one-off ex-
Dottore Wax/Greg Garrison, Scagliettibodied
1957 410 Superamerica, s/n
0671SA, which sold for $1.8m.
The ex-Lee Iacocca 1991 F40, s/n
87345, with less than 300 miles, sold
for $781k, which is a strong sale for a
car destined to be a floor ornament. A
1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Spyder, s/n
16705, sold for $990k after spending
more than a decade in an Ohio warehouse.
The multi-Platinum-winning
1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso, s/n
4459GT, sold for $979k — big money.
The 1952 Pininfarina-bodied 342
1952 Ferrari 342 America Coupe Speciale at RM, $633k
I
t doesn't get any better than this year's Scottsdale auctions for car collectors wanting
to steal a week of summer in January while bidding on Ferraris.
Collectors spent $184m to buy 2,183 cars during the annual auctionfest in and
around Scottsdale. This year's total easily beat last year's $159m — and also beat
the all-time high of $167m back in the boom days of 2007. Ferrari enthusiasts had to
dedicate their time to only two auctions, with the hard-core aficionados bouncing back
and forth between Gooding and RM.
You got that loving feeling
With the U.S. economy continuing to recover from 2008-09 and the Dow Jones
back over 12,500, the collector car market keeps building that loving feeling.
Collector cars are hard assets that can be easily transported and instantly converted
into other currencies and whose values should beat the specter of looming inflation (or
the possibility of further deflation). American (and Canadian) buyers are not hesitant
to step up to buy the right car.
While cars are not as liquid as stocks or bonds, the right car has far greater visual
appeal, bragging rights and pride of ownership. As my generation, the Baby Boomers,
rides into the sunset of our years, there is no lack of buyers or sellers looking for one
more great ride.
Muscle cars and American iron
Barrett-Jackson sold a stunning 1,288 cars for a total of $92m, but with a very
different business model than RM, Gooding or Bonhams. The usual endless stream of
muscle cars, clones and customs was supplemented with a “Salon Offering Collection”
of high-end cars that brought seven sales at over $1m. With only six low-end Ferraris
on offer at Barrett-Jackson, the Ferrari aficionado was there for the show and not for
the cars.
Enzo-era sales
Gooding & Company had seven Ferraris on offer. All were Enzo-era cars, with
a 1959 250 LWB California Spyder, s/n 1505GT, selling for $3.9m, and a 1967 275
GTB/4, s/n 10159, selling for $1.2m.
A 1965 500 Superfast, s/n 6049SF, sold at $1.1m; a 1963 250 GT Lusso, s/n 4393,
sold at $880k; and the 1955 250 Europa GT, s/n 0405GT, brought $797.5k.
50
1959 250 LWB California Spyder, $3.9m at Gooding
Sports Car Market
America, s/n 0246AL, sold for $633k,
which is a bargain price for those who
want a ticket to the lawn at Pebble Beach. Just add $500k
— or more — and a few years — or more — in the restoration
shop of your choice. In any case, Ferrari led the
way for RM's Arizona auction this year.
Russo and Steele sold a 1967 330 GTC, s/n 8843, for
an amazing $429k, and a 1972 246 GTS Dino, s/n 3908,
sold for $200k, which is very strong for a driver-quality
Euro 246 GTS.
Speed, emotion, egos and bankrolls
In the auction world, rapid-fire bidding and the
adrenalin rush of a short time to decide whether to bid
introduces a rush of drama and emotion into the equation,
and it can be very volatile. If several well-heeled
Type-A buyers want the same car, at the same place, on
the same day, big egos and big bank accounts can result
in some very high prices. There was obviously no lack
of big bank accounts or big egos at Scottsdale this year.
At the same time, the crowd is usually limited to a few
thousand people at any given time, so if no one really
wants to take a certain car home on that day, the bidding
Courtesy of RM Auctions
Pawel Litwinski, courtesy of Gooding & Co.

English Profile
1929 Bentley 4½ Litre Dual-Cowl Sports Tourer
Given that most vintage Bentleys have been rebodied at least once, this
matching-numbers, original-body car is incredibly rare
By Paul Hardiman
Details
Years produced: 1927–31
Number produced: 720
Original list price: $4,775–$5,200 (chassis
only)
SCM valuation: $671,000–$1,650,000
Tune-up cost: $400
Distributor cap: N/A (uses magneto)
Chassis #: Engine compartment on
firewall
Engine: # On engine bearer
Club: Bentley Drivers Club Ltd,
W.O. Bentley Memorial Building,
Ironstone Lane, Wroxton, Banbury,
Oxfordshire, U.K., OX15 6ED
More: www.bdcl.org
Alternatives: 1919–27 Vauxhall 30-98
1934–35 Lagonda LG45
1928–34 Invicta 4½-Litre
SCM Investment Grade: A
Comps
Chassis number: KL3584
Engine number: KL3584
Coachwork by Vanden Plas
ingly heavy bodies. With the 6½ Litre in production,
Bentley sought to combine the light chassis of the 3 Litre
with the added power of a larger motor. The result was
essentially a 3 Litre chassis with a cut-down, 4-cylinder
version of the 6½-liter engine.
With a handful of 4½ Litre Team Cars at their dis-
B
posal, the Bentley Boys quickly amassed Le Mans and
Grand Prix finishes and victories. Although the Speed
Six was the true victor at Le Mans for Bentley, it was
Birkin's respect for the 4½ Litre that led to the development
of the Blower Bentley.
The 4½ was W.O.'s racing workhorse, but the pro-
duction 4½ Litre was to be, in most cases, a luxury car
fitted with saloon coachwork. For Bentley enthusiasts,
the 4½ Litre was a racing car. Campaigned privately
throughout Europe, the 4½ quickly gained a reputation
for being the best-handling vintage Bentley with an
exceptional power-to-weight ratio.
As Bentley's preferred coachbuilder, Vanden Plas
produced a standard Sports Tourer for the 4½ Litre. The
fabric-bodied tourer with long wings was a handsome,
sporting automobile and, with its lightweight construction,
the 4½ proved a fast car. In addition to the standard
coachwork, Vanden Plas built bodies to order, as
52
y 1926, Bentley saw a need for a new 4-cylinder
model. Although a Le Mans winner, the 3 Litre
was wanting in international competition, and
the standard road cars suffered from increas-
is the case with KL3584. As with previous design 464,
the body was to include a second cowling and screen,
which was a body style used on a small number of Speed
Six chassis. The front doors were fitted with roll-up
windows — a rare and luxurious appointment in 1929.
The body remained closed-coupled, enclosing the brake
lever, with the coachwork ending directly over the rear
axle.
Ordered through Kensington Moir and Straker
Ltd., KL3584 was delivered new to Capt. P.R. Astley
of Portland Place, London, in late 1929. Throughout
his ownership, the car saw regular maintenance with
Bentley Motors, accruing nearly 20,000 miles. In 1931,
Astley wed stage actress Madeleine Carroll, and the 4½
was sold.
The second owner was A.M. Jones of North
Kensington, London, and the Bentley continued to
receive factory servicing. With approximately 25,000
miles on the odometer, the 4½ was sold to J.B. Stennett of
The Laurels, near Winchmore Hill in England. Factory
service records continue to note maintenance into 1938
without any major work or replacement of parts.
During World War II, the whereabouts of KL3584 re-
mained unknown, although early post-war photographs
show that it survived in London undamaged. Acquired
by avid Bentley enthusiast H.J.K. “Tony” Townsend,
KL3584 saw spirited use for 13 years, until it passed
to Per Thorvaldson in Norway. Six years later, Philip
1929 Bentley 4½ Litre Le Mans
Lot 34, s/n NX3457
Condition 2+
Sold at $824,626
H&H Duxford, U.K., 9/21/11
SCM# 185908
1928 Bentley 4½ Litre
Lot 157, s/n PM3252
Condition 3
Sold at $770,000
Gooding & Co, Pebble Beach, CA, 8/21/11
SCM# 183916
1930 Bentley 4½ Litre Blower
Lot 114, s/n MS3928
Condition 2
Sold at $1,760,000
Gooding & Co., Pebble Beach, CA, 8/13/08
SCM# 117564
Sports Car Market
Mathieu Heurtault, courtesy of Gooding & Company

Page 51

SCM
Digital Bonus
Wichard of Glen Cove, Long Island, saw the car there
during a trip to Europe, negotiated a deal, and by 1971,
KL3584 was bound for America. With lasting restoration
work dating from Mr. Townsend's ownership,
KL3584 needed little preparation before Wichard could
show the car.
In its first major outing at the RROC National Meet
in Newport Beach, CA, KL3584 was the first Bentley to
win Best of Show at an RROC National Meet.
Seen here in a fitting dark green finish with impres-
sive patina, KL3584 remains exceptionally original. The
original frame and engine remain, as well as the original
and desirable C-type gearbox. The 4½ has a proper appearance,
both under the bonnet and in the driver's seat.
An original Vanden Plas body tag is mounted above the
dash, as well as a plaque denoting its 1973 Best of Show.
With the growing status of pedigreed vintage
Bentleys as collectible motorcars, KL3584 is a motorcar
of great significance.
SCM Analysis This car, Lot 33, sold for $2,145,000,
including buyer's premium, at
Gooding & Company's sale in Scottsdale, AZ, on January 20, 2012.
The first Bentley Motors Ltd. was founded in 1919, and between then and 1931, W.O.
Bentley created the motor cars that became a legend. They are prized and treasured
possessions almost a century later, something that would have surprised the intensely
modest Walter Owen Bentley, but he also would have been very proud.
Replacing the Bentley 3 Litre, the 4½ is famous for epitomizing pre-war British
motor racing and for its popular slogan: “There's no replacement for displacement,”
which W.O. created with victory at Le Mans the aim. A total of 720 4½ Litres were
produced between 1927 and 1931, including 55 supercharged cars.
The Vanden Plas Vintage Bentley strikes an iconic image, recognizable the world
over. For many, it's the Vintage Le Mans car — don't forget that Bentleys won the 24
Hours four times consecutively from 1927 to 1931. It made such an impact on writer
Ian Fleming that he drove one, as did his alter ego James Bond in the first three 007
novels.
Very minor changes over time
When our subject car was sold new to Capt. Astley, the body was finished in black
with painted lamps, and the car sported drop windows at the front — only two were
built like this. Since the 1950s, the car has gained a better radiator mascot and a few
extra badges and running-board toolboxes. The car has lost its central spot lamp,
and the fake radiator louvers were fitted while in the ownership of Tony Thompson,
presumably to give the car the appearance of an 8 Litre. Around the same time, the
original headlamps were changed to Lucas P100s, painted black like the originals and
fitted to the original Barker dipping system.
After 24 years of ownership, in 1995, our subject car was sold for $365,500
against an estimate of $270,000 to $300,000 when Christie's disposed of the Wichard
Collection in New York, making it as expensive as a Blower was then.
The buyer, Nicholas Springer of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, kept the car for
four years before selling it to German collector B. Fusting. In 1999, KL3584 received
its FIVA Passport and was displayed at the Concorso
d'Eleganza Villa d'Este.
In 2003, the car was briefly sold to Christophe
Grohe of Switzerland before returning to Germany
in 2008, where it found a home with Uwe Kai on the
Tegernsee outside Munich. In Kai's ownership, the 4½
received some needed attention and regular maintenance.
Receipts from 2005 to 2010 account for work,
which included the installation of an overdrive for 4½
Litres. The overdrive is not original, but it's invisible
and reversible, although current thinking is that a taller
diff ratio is a more elegant solution for Bentleys that
need longer legs for modern traffic.
Climbing values for originality
Our subject car would be welcomed at any rally
or concours with open arms, and the second cowl and
collapsible rear screen make it a very adaptable and
comfortable touring car.
In comparison with our subject car, the most recent
public sale of a 4½ Litre car was at the H&H Auctions
Buxton, U.K., sale in September 2011. This car was first
owned by Woolf Barnato — but not with the original
body, as the current Le Mans type body was fitted in
the 1980s, although it was always in the style of Vanden
Plas. It
fetched $824,626, which was considered the
right money.
But the real point here is the $2.1m paid for our sub-
ject car. That money comes from a collectors' market
that is increasingly willing to pay a premium for originality.
Our subject car fetched way over its estimate of
$1.2m to $1.5m, especially when a 50% premium over an
average rebodied 4½ would have appeared fair.
Given that Bentley Motors habitually chopped and
changed mechanical components, and that most vintage
Bentleys have been rebodied at least once in their lives
— usually with non-original, Vanden Plas-type replica
bodies — this matching-numbers, original-body car
is incredibly rare. That meant the seller could practically
hold out for any price, secure in the knowledge
that there would be a buyer for this important artifact.
Extremely well sold, but only slightly less well bought.
And in today's era of enlightened collectors, we can
safely assume this important artifact will be preserved,
not (heaven forbid) restored. ♦
(Introductory description courtesy of Gooding &
Company.)
SCM Digital Bonus. Additional images, Seat Time and more...
April 2012
53

Page 52

Etceterini & Friends Profile
1956 Lancia Aurelia B24S Convertible
This transaction is certainly an outlier and could not be reproduced with an
ordinary car
by Donald Osborne
Details
Years produced: 1956–59
Number produced: 521
Original list price: $5,500
Current SCM Valuation: $225,000–
$350,000
Tune-up cost: $350–$1,000
Distributor caps: $160
Chassis #: Engine compartment on
firewall
Engine #: Stamped on right side of block
Club: American Lancia Club
More: www.viva-lancia.com
Alternatives: 1958–62 Alfa Romeo
2000 Spider, 1960–61 Porsche
356B Cabriolet, 1956–59 BMW 503
Convertible
SCM Investment Grade: A
Comps
Chassis number: B24S1205
Engine number: B241321
I
n 1954, Lancia introduced a sporting Pininfarinadesigned
Spider aimed at the American market.
After a brief production run, Lancia replaced the
Spider with a more developed convertible, complete
with a more substantial soft top and roll-up windows.
Between 1956 and 1958, only 521 B24 convertibles were
built, of which approximately 160 were constructed on
the desirable Fifth Series platform.
When new, these elegant open Aurelias commanded
a price tag approaching $5,500, but for those who demanded
quality, performance and style from their sports
car, it was well worth it.
In 1961, with just over 35,000 original miles on the
odometer, this Lancia blew a head gasket. Instead of
repairing the 5-year-old sports car, the owner decided
to store the convertible in his garage, where it remained
virtually untouched for more than four decades. In 2005,
the Lancia finally emerged from storage, and restoration
of the car was begun. However, after three years,
the project had not advanced beyond preliminary stages
and, in 2008, it was sold to the current caretaker. During
the next two years, the Lancia was treated to a complete
restoration, performed to the highest standards of cosmetic
and mechanical excellence. Renowned marque
specialist Tony Nicosia performed a comprehensive
mechanical restoration, Steve Beckman's Metalworks
addressed the paint and bodywork, and Angels Plating
restored the chrome and trim pieces to their original
brilliance.
The consignor, a gentleman well versed in highquality
Italian sports cars, completed the final assembly
54
and ensured that all the details were properly addressed.
After the bodywork was prepared to exacting standards,
it was finished in an elegant metallic silver-gray that
lends an appearance that is both striking and understated.
The cockpit was carefully reupholstered in red
leather, as it was originally done. It should also be noted
that this exceptional B24S is accompanied by its original
tool kit and jack, as well as a correct owner's manual
and top instructions. Even the original yellow and black
California license plate “SNC 531” remains with the car
after all these years.
SCM Analysis This car, Lot 132, sold for $561,000
including premium at the Gooding
& Company Scottsdale sale on January 21, 2012.
The sale of this car was a world record at auction for
the model. It astonished most onlookers and left many
in the Italian car universe wondering what had happened.
To put the sale of this car into context, let's go
to the fundamentals and look at the attributes of value
that apply in this situation — and how they affected the
remarkable-but-not-surprising outcome.
Key attributes applicable here are beauty, usefulimportance,
provenance, rarity and
ness, historical
condition.
Pininfarina's design for the open two-seater Lancia
Aurelia, the B24, debuted in 1954 as the “Spider
America,” and as its name implied, it was aimed squarely
at the ravenous U.S. market for sports cars in the 1950s.
As such, a prominent design feature was the dogleg
wrap-around windshield, a very transatlantic touch.
1957 Lancia Aurelia B24S convertible
Lot 68, s/n B24S1317
Condition 2+
Sold at $165,000
Worldwide, Auburn, IN, 9/2/11
SCM# 185763
1957 Lancia Aurelia B24S convertible
Lot 255A, B24S1416
Condition 1Sold
at $211,140
Bonhams, Monaco, 5/18/09
SCM# 120543
1957 Lancia Aurelia B24S convertible
Lot 65, s/n B24S1416
Condition 2
Not sold at $147,000
H&H, Coventry, U.K., 3/14/09
SCM# 119870
Sports Car Market
Pawel Litwinski, courtesy of Gooding & Company

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The Spider America also was a Spartan, true roadster, with side
curtains, no glovebox and no external handles for doors and trunk. The
look of the Spider recalled that of Pininfarina's 1953 Lancia D24 racer,
which triumphed in the Mexico Panamericana road race and the Mille
Miglia. The car also evoked the breathtakingly beautiful Maserati A6
GCS/53 Berlinetta.
The changes in style that came with the transformation from Spider
to convertible in 1956 essentially retain the look of the original design,
so the B24 convertible scores in our beauty category.
Heavier, more comfortable
In line with the developments in the Aurelia B20 coupe, which moved
it from a lighter, performance-oriented stance to one of more comfort
and refinement, the B24 convertible added taller doors with roll-up
windows, a more upright windshield with vent windows, exterior door
handles and a glovebox door in a more substantial dashboard now more
similar to that of the B20 coupe.
The differences added about 300 pounds in curb weight, while the
newer model lost some power, falling about 18 horsepower in output. Those changes
certainly altered the character of the B24 convertible, but those who might think it
morphed into a cushy, slow, wallowing boulevardier compared with the Spider are
completely wrong.
In addition, a fairly interesting difference arises between the B24s manufactured
in 1956 alongside the 5th Series B20 coupes and the later 1958 and 1959 B24s, built
with the 6th Series B20 coupes. The earlier cars share with the Spider America a fuel
tank behind the seats above the rear axle. The tank was moved into the trunk, just
behind the axle, in the later cars. This does have a bit of an effect on handling, mainly
the transition from full to empty tank, which is less keenly felt in the 1956 cars than in
those built afterwards.
This gas tank move also minimizes the handling differential between the Spider
America and the 5th Series convertible, but it does make folding the top of the early
convertible more of a challenge and also reduces the bonus storage space behind the
seats.
The larger clutch and brakes of the convertible, not to mention windows and a top
that seal reasonably well, make it far more hospitable on a 1,000-mile rally than the
Spider. Eligible for all the events that would welcome a Spider, our convertible ranks
high in the useful category as well.
On the historical front, it's generally true that the first and last years of a model are
those most sought after. Our car sits in the middle, which might lessen its appeal, but
see above for reasons why it might not lose as much as would be assumed.
Here, we'll score it average in historical importance.
Always a yellow-plate car
Our car's provenance is pretty impressive, as it is a California car from delivery
that remained there its entire life, with two owners from new and still retaining its
original license plates. The seller was also a well-known California Italian sports car
family known for high-quality Ferraris. Full marks in the provenance department.
There were 521 B24 convertibles made, against 240 of the Spiders. However, there
were only 160 of the 5th Series Convertibles, which
arguably combine the best features of both types. So, in
the rarity sweepstakes, this car can also move near the
head of the line.
Finally, we come to condition. I have seen many
Aurelia Spiders and convertibles, and had the opportunity
to drive a number of them. The restoration done on
this car was exceptional.
Especially impressive were the detail finishes that
were as Lancia intended and no better. The body was
prepped thoroughly, with excellent panel fit and gaps,
finished with superbly applied paint. The chrome and
bright trim showed no flaws and the interior was as-new.
In fact, the only issue I could find cosmetically was
a three-inch stretch of beading trim on the dashboard
over the tachometer that was slightly adrift. Returning
to the paint, a lovely shade of “Grigio Metallizato,”
a discussion arose with a very good friend of mine, a
talented and knowledgeable Italian restorer who felt it
was far too light to be correct. But I don't mind the color
at all. Winner of its class at Concorso Italiano in 2011,
this car's quality has been acknowledged.
Drives as well as it looks
It's not often that I have the opportunity to drive a
car that I profile in these pages, but I did spend some
time in the driver's seat of this car thanks to my duties
as co-host with Publisher Martin of “What's My Car
Worth?” on Velocity TV. We shot this car for an upcoming
episode, and the test drive fell to me. It's here that
I was really impressed. It quickly became clear that as
much time had been spent underneath the shiny paint as
above. It drove as well, if not better, than it looked and
truly impressed as one of the best I have ever experienced.
If a grade above an A could be given for condition,
it would earn it here.
The differential in prices between the Spider, which
as far back as 2007 was commanding up to $500k for the
best examples, and the convertible has always seemed
to be far wider than justifiable.
The gap has been slowly closing, and now with this
sale of an extraordinary example squarely in Spider
territory, it will further shrink. Make no mistake — this
transaction is certainly an outlier and could not be,
and should not be expected to be, reproduced with an
ordinary car. But it is further proof, if any is needed,
that in the current market the best sets its own level,
regardless of what the comparables might say. A rare
case of extremely well sold — and equally well bought. ♦
(Introductory description courtesy of Gooding &
Company.)
SCM Digital Bonus. Additional images, Seat Time and more...
April 2012
55

Page 54

German Profile
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Alloy Gullwing
The $1,000 premium compared with a steel car in '55 turned out to be a
rather good investment
By Simon Kidston
Details
Years built: 1955–56
Number built: 29 (26 in '55, three in '56)
Original list price: $9,000
Current SCM Valuation: $3,000,000–
$4,000,000
Tune-up cost: $2,000–$3,000
Distributor cap: $300
Chassis #: Left front frame (stamped)
and center firewall (plaque)
Engine #: Below cylinder head, right
front of engine
Club: Gull Wing Group
776 Cessna Avenue
Chico, CA 95928
More: www.gullwinggroup.org
Alternatives: 1959–62 Ferrari 250GT
SWB Berlinetta, 1957 Jaguar XK-SS,
1959–62 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato
SCM Investment Grade: A
Comps
Chassis number: 1980435500208
D
erived for sport, this aluminum Gullwing did
not see competitive use. Completed on April
20, 1955, 5500208 was appropriately finished
in metallic silver gray over a blue leather inte-
rior. The 300SL was also outfitted with Rudge wheels,
the NSL motor and Plexiglas windows per aluminumbuild
specifications.
On May 27, 1955, the alloy Gullwing was shipped to
Veron Holz of Bonita, CA. Although the early history of
this Gullwing is not known, there is no apparent race record
for 5500208. In March 1980, the 300SL resurfaced
in San Diego, and it was sold to Hans Dieter Blatzheim
of Germany. The purchase price was an astonishing
$57,000 for an unrestored car.
In need of some attention, the alloy Gullwing made
its way to the well-known Hill & Vaughn restoration
shop in Santa Monica, CA. The car is accompanied by a
file of invoices and photographs documenting the work
performed, including meticulous fitting of the doors,
hood and deck lid. Additionally, the engine and gearbox
were sent to AMG for rebuilding. For unknown reasons,
Herr Blatzheim then requested that 5500208 be sent to
Germany. Further photo documentation shows the restoration
and assembly of the chassis and completion of
the car in silver with gray leather.
In May 1984, 5500208 was sold to Markus Ahr of
Germany. During his ownership, work was performed
by Daimler-Benz, including a rebuild of the engine.
Ahr kept the car into the 1990s, at which time work
was performed by Kienle. Photo documentation shows
56
a rebuilding of the transmission, rear end, brakes and
suspension completed in 1998. Not long after, the alloy
Gullwing was sold to Friedhelm Loh, a noted German
collector.
In 2009, Ken McBride of Seattle acquired 5500208.
Although his collection was diverse, McBride had
always focused on Mercedes-Benz. Late that year,
McBride fell ill, and the newly acquired Mercedes-Benz
took a back seat. The Gullwing was sent to noted 300SL
restorer Rudi Koniczek for some necessary sorting.
McBride wanted certain aspects of the car corrected,
predominantly the shade of silver and the interior. The
alloy Gullwing was stripped and repainted in its original
silver (DB 180). The gray leather interior was removed
and the correct blue leather was installed. One deviation
from the original was the addition of seat cushions
upholstered in plaid.
In mid-2011, Koniczek had finished the restora-
tion but McBride passed away before he could see the
final masterpiece. Shortly afterward, McBride's wife,
Patty, and the rest of the family chose to show the alloy
Gullwing at the Kirkland Concours d'Elegance, where
it won its class.
The finish of the 300SL is of the highest level, and
the car retains a very correct appearance. The original
engine remains, correctly stamped NSL. Additionally,
the Gullwing has belly pans, and its chrome Rudge
wheels are original. The luggage is properly finished in
natural pigskin, the Becker radio is correct, the grille
has the proper “curved star” — the list goes on and on.
1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL
Lot 5000, s/n 1980404500129
Condition 2
Sold at $2,200,000
Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ 1/21/2012
SCM# N/A
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL
Lot 249, s/n 1980405500601
Condition 2+
Sold at $1,375,000
RM Auctions, Phoenix, AZ, 1/20/2011
SCM# 168715
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL alloy
Lot 22, s/n 1980435500189
Condition 1
Sold at $941,166
Artcurial, Paris, 2/12/2006
SCM# 41061
Sports Car Market
Pawel Litwinski, courtesy of Godding & Company

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Furthermore, this alloy Gullwing is accompanied by a tool kit, knockoff hammer,
jack, comprehensive documentation, a Mercedes-Benz Certificate, an owner's manual,
instruction manual, spare parts catalog, service book and Becker radio manuals.
As one of the most iconic motorcars of all time, it can easily be said that the alloy
Gullwing is the most significant road-going Mercedes-Benz of the post-war era.
SCM Analysis This car, Lot 27, sold for $4,620,000, including buyer's premium,
at Gooding's Scottsdale auction on January 20, 2012.
Scottsdale and Gullwings seem to mix well.
RM set a record for a steel-bodied car in Arizona last year — a whopping $1.375
million, which most observers put down to an almighty battle of two egos.
Then, just a year later, we witnessed two new world records at Scottsdale 2012: one
for a perfectly standard steel Gullwing showing just 4,149 miles at Barrett-Jackson,
which sold for $2.2 million, and, of course, $4.6 million for our subject car — a rare
aluminum Gullwing at Gooding.
The Gullwing owners' Internet forum has been ablaze with comments ranging from
“What were they thinking?” to “I always believed alloys should be worth as much as
a steel Ferrari 250 SWB,” followed by a rather hopeful: “Steelies will be next.”
There has also been much debate, most of it from well-informed sources, about the
mechanical variations between steel- and alloy-bodied Gullwings.
Digging back to the start
It appears to me that, as prices of the two grow apart, people come up with new and
exotic-sounding technical differences to match. To separate fact from fiction, I flew
to Stuttgart to meet Michael Bock, head of Mercedes-Benz Classic, and spend time in
the factory archive.
What I discovered is fascinating: The Mercedes-Benz board sanctioned the alloy
body option on February 22, 1955, for clients wishing to participate in FIA races
where a limited weight saving was allowed compared with the standard car.
The price premium for this “Leichtmetallausführung” was set at $1,000 (5,000 DM
for Germany, where the steel car listed at 29,000 DM) — making the final price 34,000
DM, or $6,800. Herr Bock Sr. paid 55,000 DM for a nice town house that same year,
by means of comparison. A prototype Gullwing with alloy body, engine and rims was
found to weigh 286 pounds (130 kg) less than the standard car. The alloy engine alone
saved 97 pounds (44 kg), and a further 15.8 pounds (7.2 kg) could be saved with plexi
windows.
In the end, only the alloy body itself was deemed suitable for production, resulting
in a total weight of 2,494.8 pounds (1,134 kg) compared with 2,695 pounds (1,225 kg)
for the steel body, a 200-pound savings.
And what about the much-debated mechanical differences? Great fuss is made
about the NSL engine. The factory confirms that this “Sonderteile” (special parts)
engine, which was a popular option available on both steel and alloy cars, consisted of
a sportier camshaft (standardized on the roadster), which added about 15 horsepower,
paired with a different butterfly throttle valve for the injection pump and an appropriately
calibrated distributor.
The 8.55:1 compression ratio remained unchanged, but alloy cars did receive differ-
ent springs and shock absorbers.
Externally, all 29 alloy cars featured Rudge knockoff wheels (optional on steel
Gullwings) and beading between the eyebrows and body (standard on early steel
cars), so these are not infallible visual clues.
Why $4.6m?
So, back to our subject Gullwing. Factory records
confirm it was the sixth made, and, curiously, show it
was supplied with three complete rear axles with differing
ratios, which suggests the owner may have planned
more than just driving to the shops with it — unless he
was a fast shopper.
It had optional bumper overriders and sealed beam
headlights, both typical for the U.S. market. It also
has the “Sonderteile” engine and Rudge wheels as
expected, but no suitcases or radio, so these have been
added since (the cases in the car are repro items anyway).
The colors were indeed silver with blue leather, as
cataloged, with the cloth check seat cushions (which are
easily interchangeable) recently added.
So far, so good.
I've spoken to various experts who examined this car,
and I admired it during the viewing. Everyone agreed it
had great visual appeal. In fairness, it had been completely
restored recently, but the belly pans that came as
standard on all Gullwings seem to have been removed,
and the front left corner of the car may have made contact
with a solid object at some stage in its life.
The windows appeared to be glass, not plexi, but re-
search suggests this is correct. So, in terms of condition,
this car was arguably not a show-stopper, but it was
very nicely presented.
As for this car's history, alloy Gullwings tended to be
ordered by sporting drivers. Among the 29 lucky first
owners we find names such as Lance Reventlow and
Rob Walker. Veron Holz was obviously a fortunate man
too, but his ownership won't give this Gullwing quite the
same aura. Overall, therefore, this car probably ranks
in the middle of the alloy Gullwing order of merit.
And what of its price? The last alloy to appear at
auction made less than $1 million barely five years ago
— that's how rarely they are sold in public.
Our subject car was on the market in 2008 for about
$1.2m. Recent, private sales have taken place in the
$1.8m–$2.5m range, and an offer of $2.5m was made on
this car before the auction.
So how do we get to $4.6m? Buyers like fresh cars,
departed vendors often evoke more sympathy than those
still with us, and we all know that competitive bidders
fueled with auction euphoria sometimes do things they
might not do the next day.
Was this car well sold? Yes. How much the next one
makes will tell us just how well. ♦
(Introductory description courtesy of Gooding &
Company.)
SCM Digital Bonus. Additional images and more...
April 2012
57

Page 56

American Car Collector Profile
1931 Chrysler CG Imperial Convertible Victoria
This car is a union of the 145-inch wheelbase Chrysler CG Imperial Convertible
Victoria and the creative design of the Waterhouse Coachbuilding Company
by Carl Bomstead
Details
Years produced: 1931–32
Number produced: 99 chassis supplied to
coachbuilders in 1931
Original list price: $3,320
Current SCM Valuation: $400,000–
$600,000
Tune-up cost: $450
Distributor cap: $200
Chassis #: Right front door hinge post
Engine #: Top of timing gear cover
Club: Classic Car Club of America
More: www.classiccarclub.org
Alternative: 1932 Lincoln Model KB by
Waterhouse, 1931 Packard Eight 845
Deluxe by Waterhouse, 1929 DuPont
Model G by Waterhouse.
SCM Investment Grade: B
Comps
Chassis number: 7802831
T
his 1931 Chrysler CG Imperial Custom Convertible
Victoria by Waterhouse was produced on June
15, 1931. The known history dates to 1939, when
Calvin Collins of New York purchased it from the
McCormick garage.
The Collins family enjoyed the car for several years,
but it was almost lost to the scrap metal drives of World
War II. At the insistence of Collins' young son, Scott,
the sculpted Imperial was spared, but in the balance
of patriotism and patronage, the Chrysler gave up the
single heaviest piece of metal that could serve as war
material — its engine. The car was salted away in the
family barn, and the younger Collins dreamt of restoring
the old car; he collected original parts over the years
to serve a future restoration.
In 2009, Scott Collins sold the CG Imperial, after
it was in the family for 70 years, to noted Canadian
restorer Richard Grenon. Richard stated the car was in
excellent condition — even though it had been exposed
to the elements — but the aluminum body and the chassis
had fared remarkably well. The majority of the wood
framing required replacement, but only three inches of
the lower quarters required replacement. Many of the
original wood pieces and smaller chrome elements still
bear the “163” stamping, which was the Waterhouse job
number.
Between 2009 and 2011, 6,000 hours were spent
restoring CG 3843. It is finished in the original color of
58
black with caramel coachline. Notable features include
an interior light and full rear window, both of which are
Waterhouse trademarks. The result is, in a word, stunning.
SCM Analysis This Chrysler CG Imperial
Convertible Victoria, Lot 214, sold
for $522,500, including buyer's premium, during RM's
Arizona Biltmore sale on January 20, 2012.
Chrysler introduced the Series CG Imperial in July
1930, and it was a completely different automobile
than the company's previous luxury cars. It carried
an 8-cylinder engine, it rolled on a longer, 145-inch
wheelbase and the radiator shell had become a grille
that was canted back at a rakish angle. The long hood
and flowing fenders accentuated the length of the car.
The Imperial's all-new engine was a 384.4-ci straight
eight that generated 125 horsepower.
This car is a delightful union of the elegance of the
145-inch wheelbase Chrysler CG Imperial Convertible
Victoria and the creative design of the little-known
Waterhouse Coachbuilding Company of Webster, MA.
An unlikely start
Four of
the most unlikely of partners formed
Waterhouse in 1928.
One was a bankrupt taxicab body manufacturer,
another a stockbroker who had studied at Harvard,
1932 Lincoln Model KB by Waterhouse
Lot 16, s/n KB9
Condition 1
Sold at $203,500
Gooding & Company, Pebble Beach, CA,
8/18/07
SCM# 46548
1931 Chrysler Imperial CG by Waterhouse
Lot 154, s/n 7801063
Condition 1Sold
at $522,500
RM Auctions, Amelia Island, FL, 3/13/10
SCM# 159900
1931 Lincoln Model K Victoria by
Waterhouse
Lot 20, s/n 68757
Condition 3+
Sold at $231,000
Gooding & Company, Oxnard, CA,
10/21/06
SCM# 43389
Sports Car Market
Courtesy of RM Auctions

Page 57

SCM
Digital Bonus
the third an unemployed accountant, and
the final member was a body repair foreman
working at Cadillac. Two of the group were
Charles Waterhouse and his son, L. Osborne
Waterhouse, who were descendants of a vehicle
body manufacturer and wanted to continue
their family tradition.
They were certainly not an overnight suc-
cess, as they lived in modest rental housing and
drove Model A Fords rather than examples of
their own work. In fact, one of their first orders
was for 200 small wooden boats that, although
they were not exactly custom coachbuilding,
did generate much-needed cash.
Waterhouse, in time, developed a relation-
ship with DuPont and produced 82 bodies for
them between 1929 and 1930, and their designs
went on to grace Packard, Lincoln, Marmon,
Cadillac and even Rolls-Royce automobiles.
The Great Depression, which started in
1929, was a difficult period for the luxury car
market, and many marques and custom coachbuilders
shuttered their doors. Waterhouse had
built an estimated 296 bodies when, in 1933,
they withdrew from coachbuilding to concentrate
on making upholstered furniture.
One of three Waterhouse-bodied Imperials
In 1930, Chrysler signed a contract with Waterhouse. In an interview conducted
in 1969, Moses Waterhouse stated that 120 custom bodies were delivered to Chrysler.
That number is unrealistic, as it exceeds the total Chrysler production released to
custom coachbuilders other than LeBaron between 1931 and 1933. Larry Waterhouse,
the grandson of the firm's founder, estimates the number to be 31, with at least three
Waterhouse-bodied Chrysler Imperials surviving.
One of the remaining 1931 Chrysler CG Imperial Victorias with a Waterhouse body
was offered at RM's March 13, 2009, Amelia Island sale. It realized $522,500 — as
did this car — but it was not finished to the same exacting detail as our subject car.
The Amelia Island car didn't have interior lights mounted in the rear top bow, the
running board material was incorrect, it did not have the distinctive Waterhouse sun
visor, and the windshield-wiper motor was mounted incorrectly.
The Chrysler Imperial presented at this sale was a
fresh restoration that was finished to exacting detail,
with particular attention to authenticity. It was a superior
car compared with what was offered three years
earlier, but it sold for the same amount.
Auctions can be unpredictable, but it always takes at
least two bidders to move a car upward in price. In this
case, the buyer was prepared to go to at least $600,000,
but his lower bid won the car. The buyer was thrilled,
and he feels the car was very well bought. We certainly
agree. ♦
(Introductory description courtesy of RM Auctions.)
SCM Digital Bonus. Additional images and more...
April 2012
59

Page 58

Race Car Profile
1967 Fiat Abarth TC Berlina Corsa
The vast majority of Italian racing automobiles (by number, if not reputation)
of the past 70 years have been tiny, obscure and weird
by Thor Thorson
Details
Years built: 1965–70
Number built: Unknown
Original list price: Unknown
Current SCM valuation: $25,000–$35,000
Cost per hour to race: $400
Chassis #: Left wheelwell of engine
compartment
Engine #: Left rear of block
Club: Fiat-Lancia Unlimited
More: www.fiatclubamerica.com
Alternatives: 1962–64 Austin Mini Cooper,
1961–71 Austin Sprite, 1964 Renault
R8 Gordini
SCM Investment Grade: C
Reason to buy: A fun, cheap pocket rocket
for local racing
Comps
Chassis number: 1667
T
he Abarth reputation as a giant-killer was cemented
on the racetracks, rallies and hillclimbs of
Europe and America, as funny-looking but potent
little Fiat sedans stormed to class wins and group
championships in event after event.
Based on the Fiat 600D introduced in 1960, the 850
TC, for Turismo Competizione, boasted an 847-cc,
Abarth-tuned engine with 52 horsepower capable of
a 92-mph top speed. Disc brakes were fitted as part of
the enhanced suspension package. From the TC came
the 850 TC Nürburgring Corsa, with an additional 16
horsepower and the large front-mounted radiator. This,
combined with the propped-open rear engine lid, gave
this series of cars their very distinctive look. That raised
engine cover, first done in the name of more efficient
engine cooling, also had the not-inconsequential benefit
of acting as a very useful rear wing, which generated
considerable downforce to help plant the rear drive
wheels of the car.
Next up was a further development of the block to
982-cc, which gave birth to the Fiat Abarth 1000 TC.
Running against the heretofore dominant Mini Coopers
in the D Sedan class, they proved a formidable adversary.
In fact, they ended up being banned from SCCA
competition, such was their record.
The 1967 Fiat Abarth TC Berlina Corsa offered
here was discovered by the vendor in 1997 sitting in a
back yard in Paso Robles, CA. Part of an estate being
60
liquidated, it was missing its engine and wheels, and
parts were scattered about. A two-year search ensued
to locate the correct pieces to begin a rebuild, aided by
information from Al Cosentino, a noted authority who
was once an Abarth importer and racer. As completed,
the car is fitted with a full-race, high-performance
1050-cc Abarth engine, said to deliver 110 horsepower
at the 8,000-rpm redline. It puts that power through a
5-speed Abarth transmission and a limited-slip, closeratio
differential. An Abarth remote oil filter works
with the front-mounted oil cooler and Abarth radiator to
keep things cool at speed, and Girling disc brakes haul
it down when needed. Koni shocks and Campagnolo
Abarth wheels — six-inch in the front and eight-inch
in rear — keep things nailed down around corners, as
does the evolutionary rear engine hatch, which is a fixed
spoiler.
The original 1967 instruments can be seen in the
factory binnacle, while a few additional modern gauges
to monitor all engine systems have been sensitively
mounted atop and below the dashboard. This Fiat Abarth
remains a potent racing weapon, having recently been
run in VARA events at Las Vegas and Buttonwillow as
well as in HSR events at Las Vegas and Phoenix. It has
been the winner of the Phoenix Historic Festival “Mini
Cooper/Abarth/Lotus Challenge” three consecutive
years, and the vendor states it to be “the fastest Berlina
Corsa on the West Coast.”
1964 Fiat Abarth 850 TC Stradale
Lot 140, s/n 1427366
Condition 3+
Sold at $22,967
Bonhams, Monte Carlo, MCO, 5/20/11
SCM# 179373
1964 Austin Mini Cooper S
Lot 119, s/n CA297487769
Condition 3
Sold at $34,831
Artcurial, Le Mans, FRA, 7/9/10
SCM# 165323
1966 Fiat Abarth 100 OTS
Lot 173, s/n 43313
Condition 3Sold
at $24,528
Coys, Padua, ITA, 10/24/09
SCM# 153133
Sports Car Market
Evan Klein, courtesy of Bonhams

Page 59

SCM
Digital Bonus
SCM Analysis This car, Lot 303, sold for $46,800, including
buyer's premium, at Bonhams' Scottsdale
auction on January 19, 2012.
When people think about Italian racing cars, they almost ex-
clusively imagine Ferraris and Maseratis — even Alfa Romeos.
In short, they picture relatively large, snarling examples of exotic
engine technology powering svelte alloy bodies mounted on
hand-built chassis and suspensions.
This scenario is only partly right. The vast majority of Italian
racing automobiles (by number, if not reputation) of the past 70
years have been tiny, obscure and weird.
From Cisitalia through Giannini and Moretti and on to Abarth,
they have been mostly Fiat-based, limited-production, almostspecials
— cars that are more cute than fearsome. They have
embodied the post-war Italian reality and personality: limited
by government, taxes and pocketbook — but still determined to
charge flat out down the road with as much speed, style and verve
as possible.
The Stan Mott “Cyclops” caricature drawings in Road &
Track caught the essence of these cars. The Cyclops drawings
were clearly based on some variation of the Fiat Abarth, a tiny
Quonset hut above four tiny wheels with a huge stinger exhaust
sticking out the back, always careening through the drawing with a pair of wild eyes
behind the windshield. This is the essence of the Fiat Abarth image; it's almost impossible
to even think about them without grinning.
I will argue that Abarth came by the image honestly. Carlo Abarth was a self-taught
engineer who had worked with some of the greatest and set off on his own in 1949 by
purchasing the bankrupt remains of Cisitalia. He bumped along for a number of years,
producing specials and developing aftermarket speed equipment and exhaust systems,
primarily for Fiats.
The Fiat 600
Things changed in a big way in 1956 when Fiat brought out its 600 model. The 600
was tiny and cheap, but it was very well engineered and proved to be an excellent
platform for what Abarth did best — low-budget hot rodding.
I should note that Fiat was not unhappy with Abarth's enterprise. Although the 600
was a “car for the masses,” the adrenaline was never far below the surface at Fiat,
and Abarth quickly became their quasi-official high-performance and racing arm.
Through the late 1950s, Abarth developed and homologated modifications includ-
ing a 5-speed transaxle and 4-wheel disc brake conversions for the cars, and he also
started wringing serious horsepower out of the engines (if anything from a pushrod
850-cc engine can be considered serious).
By the early 1960s they had a competitive FIA Group 2 racing sedan. Among the
developments was the now-iconic raised rear deck lid — ostensibly to improve cooling
(the radiator was still in back in those days) — but its real purpose was to clean up
the aerodynamics, and it helped top speed enormously. They still couldn't beat the
Minis, though.
1966 and 1967 were the glory years for Abarth. They
had moved the radiator to the front and were getting
110 horsepower out of the 1-liter engine in the 1000 TC
version, which along with other developments, allowed
them to terrorize the small sedan classes — winning the
championship both years. The FIA class rules changed
for 1968. Although the cars continued to be developed
through 1971, they were past their prime. The magical
years of 1966–67 were the pinnacle.
Tiny car, tons of fun
To get back to the topic of big and impressive vs.
tiny and cute racing cars, it is useful to consider what
constitutes “fun” in vintage racing. It's an ego boost to
have people genuflecting in front of your car, but the
responsibilities of driving a car that is worth millions,
can go insanely fast, and probably deserves a better
driver than you are can weigh heavily and limit the plain
old fun.
On the other hand, driving something that is not valu-
able, not particularly fast, and not very obvious on the
track can lift the burdens of responsibility and release
the inner hooligan that hides inside all racing drivers.
I have clients who have more simple fun racing Sprites
than Ferraris. Herein is the allure of this Abarth.
There are collectible Fiat Abarths, dripping history
and originality and worthy of a place beside the racing
greats of our time, but our subject car is not one of them.
This is a pure weapons-grade racing toy, built up from
parts on what may or may not have originally been a
“real” Abarth chassis with no known history.
The compensation is that it was valued at roughly half
of what a really good version would set you back. If you
are just looking for fun, there is no need to pay for collectibility
in a car like this.
As a racing car, it appears well built, it is very nicely
presented, and will be welcome in the local and regional
races that it is likely to attend. In terms of the cars you
are likely to run against, it costs a bit more than a Sprite
or an MG, but about the same as a competitive Mini or
Alfa, so the essential numbers make sense. It is Italian,
and there aren't a lot of them out there, so there is a
certain panache and exclusivity to it — and don't forget
the Cyclops Hooligan factor — Yeehah! I think it was
appropriately bought. ♦
(Introductory description courtesy of Bonhams.)
SCM Digital Bonus. Additional images and more...
April 2012
61

Page 60

Market Reports Overview
Arizona Auction Week Jump-Starts the 2012
Collector Market
The week saw a boost in overall price per car, a trend that was often
repeated at the individual auction level
A
rizona cars week kicked off 2012 with a tremendous
start. In the span of less than two
weeks, 2,694 automobiles crossed the block,
81% of which found new owners. The slight
dip in total number of cars sold (2,183, down from 2,221
in 2011) was more than offset by sales totals, which leapt
to $184m from $160m. The week saw a boost in overall
average price per car ($85k, up from $72k), a trend that
was often repeated at the individual auction level.
The largest share of those cars came from the week-
long Barrett-Jackson sale, where 1,288 cars sold out
of 1,291 consigned, for a sell-through rate of 99.77%. In
addition to that near-perfect number, the sale saw a significant
increase in the quantity of super high-level cars,
with buyers enticed by the option of a reserve. A super
low-mile Gullwing set a record for a steel Gullwing at
$2.2m and was one of four cars to break the $2m barrier.
The average price per car increased to $70k from $55k
in 2011.
Russo and Steele consigned and sold more cars than
ever at their Scottsdale sale: 414 out of 655, up from
379 out of 607 last year. Overall sales totals were off,
however, down to $19m from $20m, and average price
per car dipped to $47k from $53k. High sales were
representative of Russo's signature mix of muscle and
exotics. Topping the charts was a 1968 L88 Corvette,
sold for $688k, and close behind was a 1967 Ferrari GTC
coupe, sold for $429k.
RM's overall sales of $26m looked soft compared
with last year's $31m, but average price per car nonetheless
took a jump to $204k, from an already impressive
$179k in 2011. Ten Ferraris from every era crossed the
block here, with a 1957 410 Superamerica coupe bringing
$1.8m, and a 1973 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spyder selling
for $990k.
SCM 1-6 Scale
Condition Rating:
1: National concours standard/
perfect
2: Very good, club concours,
some small flaws
3: Average daily driver in decent
condition
4: Still a driver but with some
apparent flaws
5: A nasty beast that runs but
has many problems
6: Good only for parts
62
Sales Totals
Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ
Gooding & Company, Scottsdale, AZ
RM, Phoenix, AZ
Russo and Steele, Scottsdale, AZ
Bonhams, Scottsdale, AZ
McCormick's, Palm Springs, CA
$6,852,259
$5,892,226
The first alloy Gullwing seen at auction in years was sold by Gooding & Company,
earning high-sale honors of the week at $4.62m. Gooding consigned and sold fewer
cars this year (116 out of 118, down from 121 out of 131 in 2011), but grew in overall
sell-through rate (98%, from 92%), sales total ($40m, up from $35m) and average price
per car ($342k, up from $289k).
Bonhams did well for their first time out in Scottsdale, selling 46 cars out of 67
consigned, for an overall sales total of $6.9m, and an average price per car of $149k.
Top dog was a 1929 Duesenberg Model J convertible that brought $700k.
Also covered in-depth this issue is McCormick's Palm Springs sale, which took
place in late November. The annual auction grew by all measurements this year: 356
cars sold out of 547 consigned, up from 275 out of 462; total sales of $5.9m, up from
$4.3m; and an average price per car of $17k, up from $16k. A 1954 Cadillac Eldorado
convertible sold for $81k, and a 1964 Jaguar XKE, sold at $68k, leading a long list of
solid sales.
We conclude this issue of SCM with a roundup of highlights from five other auc-
tions across the American Southwest and three important Las Vegas motorcycle sales,
as well as Chad Tyson's eBay column. This month, Tyson sacrifices collectibility for
horsepower in his investigation of cars with engine swaps. ♦
Top 10 Sales This Issue
(Land Auctions Only)
1. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL alloy Gullwing coupe,
$4,620,000—G&Co., p. 90
2. 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spyder convertible,
$3,905,000—G&Co., p. 94
3. 1947 Bentley Mark VI convertible, $,275,0000—B-J,
p. 66
4. 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing coupe,
$2,200,000—B-J, p. 68
5. 1957 Ferrari 410 Superamerica coupe, $1,815,000—
RM, p. 106
6. 1954 DeSoto Adventurer II concept coupe,
$1,430,000—B-J, p. 70
7. 1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast coupe, $1,100,000—G&Co., p. 94
8. 1930 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A Commodore Cabriolet, $1,100,000—B-J, p. 68
9. 1959 BMW 507 Series II roadster, $990,000—RM, p. 104
10. 1973 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spyder, $990,000—RM, p. 108
1. 1968 Shelby GT500 KR fastback,
$70,200—Bon, p. 86
2. 1952 Ferrari 342 America coupe,
$632,500—RM, p. 106
3. 1954 Jaguar XK 120 convertible,
$66,000—B-J, p. 66
4. 1948 Dodge Deluxe coupe,
$60,500—G&Co., p. 96
5. 1959 Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite
roadster, $17,050—R&S, p. 116
Sports Car Market
Best Buys
$90,423,400
$39,643,900
$25,660,400
$19,273,145

Page 62

Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale 2012
Barrett-Jackson experiences a 32% increase in sales, with a 99% sell-through
rate on 1,291 vehicles, including a record for a steel-bodied Gullwing
Company
Barrett-Jackson
Date
January 15–21, 2012
Location
Scottsdale, AZ
Auctioneers
Assiter & Associates — Tom
“Spanky” Assiter, lead
auctioneer
Automotive lots sold/offered
1,288/1,291
Sales rate
99%
Sales total
$90,423,400
High sale
1948 Tucker Torpedo four-door sedan — $2,915,000
Intro by Dan Grunwald. Report
and photos by Carl Bomstead,
Dan Grunwald, and Jay Harden
Market opinions in italics
B
arrett-Jackson is easily the most wellknown
auction house in the U.S. The
company's annual events are some of
the largest auctions in the American
market, and SPEED channel coverage beams
those sales real-time into thousands of homes
across the country. Leading that charge is the
annual Scottsdale event, which tends to draw
more than 1,000 cars to the Valley of the Sun
each January. Big numbers have been the norm
here in the past, and this year's totals followed
suit, with 1,288 cars sold for $90m, compared
with the $68.5m made in 2011. That's the
highest overall Barrett-Jackson total achieved
since the boom days of 2007.
Let's talk numbers. This year's event saw a
32% increase in sales. 270,000 people attended
during the course of the week. 99% of the cars
offered were sold. $2,915,000 was the top sale,
with nine cars bringing $1,000,000 or more.
$5,900,000 was raised for charity through the
sale of 22 vehicles. That's an average of more
than $268k per charity sale. And finally, the
company achieved more than $90m in gross
sales.
Some owners have in the past looked at
other venues that offer the comfort cushion of
reserve pricing, despite Barrett-Jackson's his-
64
1948 Tucker Torpedo, sold at
$2,915,000
Buyer's premium
10%, included in sold prices
tory of record prices for top-level cars. But with the addition of a select group of lots with reserve
at this auction, it appears that the company is now back in the fold. The new reserve strategy is
bearing fruit, as there were more high-level cars on Barrett-Jackson's block this year than last,
and the results were impressive.
Before the muscle boom took over the market, Barrett-Jackson was known for selling
high-end classics. The company returned to its roots this year, with a small group of very rare
high-end consignments with reserve prices. Known as the “Salon Offering Collection,” it consisted
of 11 automobiles, including Lot 5008, the 1948 Tucker that realized a hammer price of
$2,915,000. It was the top seller here. Following closely behind was a 1947 Bentley, Lot 5005,
sold at $2,750,000. A 300SL Gullwing came in third at $2,200,000, which is a new world record
price for a steel-bodied 300SL. Last year's top sale was a Corvette car, boat and trailer combination
for $742,500, so the change was certainly a move in the right direction. Barrett-Jackson will
continue to offer reserves in the future, thanks to the
addition of Gordon McCall, founder of the Monterey
Jet Party, as the head of the Salon program.
As in any auction, there were a few bargains and a
Sales Totals
few “scratch your head” giant prices, but the numbers
show that most of the sales should leave both buyers
and sellers satisfied. Noteworthy sales included
a 1954 Jaguar XK 120 roadster at $66,000, a 1967
Austin-Healey 3000 convertible at $99,000, a 1963
Volkswagen 23-Window Transporter at $128,700, and
a 1975 AMC Pacer X at a top-market $11,550.
The strength of the old-car market is indisput-
able, and Barrett-Jackson clearly has the attention
of collectors from every demographic and financial
background. It's still the biggest auction in Arizona,
and with top-level blue-chip collectibles returning to
WestWorld, it can only get bigger from here. ♦
$20m
$40m
$60m
$80m
$100m
$120m
0
Sports Car Market
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008

Page 64

Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale, AZ
ENGLISH
TOP 10
No. 3
#5005-1947 BENTLEY MARK VI
convertible. S/N B20BH. Black/red
frog skin. RHD. Odo: 80,601 miles.
Built for 1947 Paris Auto Show and has won
many Best in Show awards on the European
Concours circuit. Wild use of brightwork in the
Figoni et Falaschi style. Striking frog skin interior.
Showing a bit of age with a few door
chrome bumpers, mirrors, luggage rack and
wire wheels. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $33,000. A
very presentable MGA in triple black. It looked
sharp, fun and ready to go. Buyer and seller
should both be happy at the price realized
today.
#624.2-1964 AUSTIN LONDON TAXI
sedan. S/N FFS9916. Black/gray cloth. Odo:
43,276 miles. Fresh thick paint. Some rust
bubbles on lower body. Hard and cracked
weatherstripping on windshield, and gobby
sealant used on rear window. Some chrome
very good, some shows visible pitting. Some
rust eating on bottom rear of trunk. Gasoline
on soft top at side glass. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT
$72,600. This XKE was sold with both hard
and soft tops. It looked very presentable cosmetically,
and would make for a strong driver.
Well bought and sold at a market-correct price.
#321-1971 TRIUMPH TR6 convertible.
chips. Would not take much to freshen it up a
bit. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $2,750,000. Last seen
at B-J's 2006 West Palm Beach sale, where it
sold for $1,728,000 (SCM# 41185). The wellknown
seller may sometimes pay too much for
his cars, but can you criticize a cool million
ROI and getting to enjoy the car for six years?
No concerns with the price paid, considering
the car's rich history. It should hold its value.
BEST
BUY
#942.1-1954 JAGUAR XK 120 roadster.
S/N F15078. White/maroon
leather. Odo: 49,649 miles. Chassis-
off restoration in 1998 and still presents well.
Great paint, with driver's door edge chipped.
Slightly dull alloy front bumpers. Some chrome
showing light pitting. Cowl leather and driver's
S/N CC60984L. Red/black canvas/black vinyl.
Odo: 43,370 miles. Well restored and appears
to be freshly done. Presents as new, inside and
out, top to bottom. All new chrome and trim as
well as interior. Tidy engine bay and undercar-
engine. The 25-foot turning radius is a requirement
for London Black Cabs, in order to circumvent
the roundabout in front of the Savoy
Hotel. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $8,800. The last
thing on most folks' bucket list is some retired
taxi cab, but London Cabs will always be cool.
This one showed obvious rust issues but was
still charming and complete. Seemed well
bought.
#977.2-1967 AUSTIN-HEALEY 3000
convertible. S/N HBJ8L140711. Green/green
canvas/tan leather. Odo: 19,169 miles. Original
Colorado Red repainted a very appealing metallic
Sage Green. No visible flaws in paint,
chrome or interior. Presents as perfect, except
radio antenna not vertical. Nice chrome wire
riage. Said to have spent 34 years with the same
owner. Cond: 1. SOLD AT $27,500. The 6-cyl
makes these much more friendly at road speeds
here across the pond, even without the optional
overdrive. This was a very nice example, and
I‘d call it well bought.
seat edge show color wear. Rolls on chrome
wires. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $66,000. Spats
were included, but I like these better without
them. The buyer should be smiling, and not just
because of the great colors and beautiful condition.
This could easily have gone for $10k or
$20k more.
#689-1958
MGA
roadster. S/N
HDL4342348. Black/black vinyl/black vinyl.
Odo: 71,432 miles. New paint and interior.
Chrome scratched, buffed through and pitting
on windshield-surround. Light paint chipping
on steering wheel center. Fitted with new
wheels. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $99,000. A great
repaint in a fantastic color combination.
Perhaps not what a purist would do, but flawlessly
executed and beautiful. The work was
worth the effort, as indicated by this very successful
outcome.
#1241.1-1967 JAGUAR XKE convert-
ible. S/N 1E13355. Maroon/black canvas/black
leather. Odo: 13,355 miles. As-new paint,
chrome, interior and top. Hood fits wide at right
bottom cowl, and trunk lid sits high on left side.
Fitted with dual Talbot racing mirrors. New
brakes, clutch and rear main seal, plus recent
carb servicing. Some globby weatherseal
66
#943-1987 ROLLS-ROYCE CORNICHE
convertible. S/N SCAZD42A7HCX16744.
White/white vinyl/white leather. Odo: 84,860
miles. Paint chips, scratches and retouches all
over. Top looks new. Front chrome shows
scratches. Interior OK. Said to have been recently
serviced. Generally shows well for a
Roller that is 25 years old. Cond: 2. SOLD AT
$44,000. This was not a concours car, but it did
present well for 85k miles. I watched it leave
the tent, however, and it rattled like there was a
problem with the fan belt or fan/radiator interface,
and it looked like the driver could barely
steer it pulling hard with both arms. The fix
could be expensive, or it could be cheap. Well
sold.
Sports Car Market

Page 66

Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale, AZ
GERMAN
TOP 10
No. 4
#5000-1954 MERCEDES-BENZ
300SL
Gullwing coupe. S/N
1980404500129. Silver/red leather.
Odo: 4,217 miles. Repainted once in original
color, otherwise claimed totally original. Few
dents in rocker panel bright trim. Light interior
door-sill wear. Cracks in steering wheel,
scratch on dash. Driver's seat worn through in
painted, otherwise a very original car. Retains
all original trim and chrome. Micro-pitting on
headlight trim. Interior OK considering age and
mileage. Air-cooled 2-stroke with 4-speed.
Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $27,500. This car was
being offered by its third owner, and it has to be
one of the most original Goggos anywhere. The
seller was satisfied with the price, but he will
miss it. Market-correct price, with the originality
thrown in for free.
#1231.2-1963 VOLKSWAGEN TRANS-
PORTER 23-window samba bus. S/N
1134814. Green & white/green vinyl. Odo:
36,941 miles. Well restored, with safari windows,
roof rack and rear door opening windows
added. Fresh paint. Rebuilt suspension, transmission,
12-volt electrics, upholstery, chrome,
trims, sunroof, everything. Driver's window
has edge chip and edge delamination starting
on right-side glass. Highly accessorized, sold
a couple of places. Stains and sagging in door
roof panels. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $2,200,000.
One of the most original, low-mileage steel
Gullwings on the planet. And the most expensive.
Perfectly restored Gullwings are fetching
just under $1m right now. An unrestored one is
worth more than double that, apparently. Well
sold.
#416.1-1957 BMW ISETTA 300 coupe.
S/N 515018. Red & white/red cloth. Odo:
20,069 miles. Well restored with all new
chrome, paint and interior. Luggage carrier on
rear. Loose trim on right side. Total car weight
with matching Eriba Puck camping trailer and
Schwinn tandem bicycle. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT
$128,700. Super-cute
new, perfect
package,
looked
for Barrett-Jackson.
like
“Slow
Vehicle” sign on back of trailer seems like a
good idea. A handful of these 21- and 23-window
Sambas have broken $110k, and this one
included a matching trailer, so price was probably
not too far above market.
ITALIAN
TOP 10
No. 8
is 770 lbs. empty. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $34,100.
A nice Isetta is a Barrett-Jackson staple, and
this was one of the nicest I've seen. It sold right
on the market for condition. Did I mention that
“cute” always sells well here?
#407.1-1959 GOGGOMOBIL
TS250
coupe. S/N 02132084. White & red/gray vinyl.
Odo: 44,633 km. Red areas have been re-
#5006-1930 ISOTTA FRASCHINI
TIPO 8A Commodore cabriolet. S/N
1540. Beige & cream/tan leather. RHD.
Odo: 13,372 Refurbished in early 1980s and
very presentable today. Missing grommet
where wire for spotlight meets body. Extensive
detail on running board. Known history and
mileage from new. First presented at 1930 New
Bill of Sale. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $1,100,000. A
stunning car with elaborate stone guard and
period Italian styling on long-wheelbase chassis.
A rare and elegant Isotta Fraschini that has
traveled
few
documented
miles. Certainly
seems like a fair price to my eye.
#688.1-1959 AUTOBIANCHI BIAN-
CHINA TRASFORMABILE convertible.
S/N 110B023050. Yellow/yellow & white
vinyl. Odo: 39,754 miles. New paint in cute
colors shows a few chips. Good chrome.
Scratched windshield. Some details weak, such
as fit of the sliding top and trunk hinge attach-
ment. New two-tone interior fitted. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $23,100. Cute, cute, cute. Based on
the larger Fiat 500. The 1960 model had one
more hp, for a total of 17.5, so plan to give
yourself a little more time to get up the hill in
this 1959 model. Bianchina values are all over
the board, but this sale price looks somewhere
in the middle, fair to buyer and seller.
#407-1960
VESPA 400 coupe. S/N
196019150. Yellow/black vinyl. Odo: 57,141
miles. Very nice paint with some trim masking
visible. New seat covers. Very clean engine.
Some delamination on windshield. Powered by
a 2-stroke engine. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $23,100.
A surprisingly roomy two-seat sliding-top convertible.
Fairly sold, with some chance for financial
upside as long as the microcar trend
keeps up.
JAPANESE
York Auto Salon. Said to be one of 10 built and
two that have survived. Presented with original
68
#332.1-1972 DATSUN 240Z coupe. S/N
HLS3095946. Red, white & blue/black vinyl.
Odo: 32,109 miles. Great color scheme with
some sag noted in C-pillar paint. Chrome looks
new. Refurbished original drivetrain. On 16inch
alloy wheels, with lowered suspension,
disc brakes and custom exhaust. Console shows
some age. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $18,150. Let's
go to a track day and race. This looked
Sports Car Market

Page 68

Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale, AZ
TOP 10
No. 6
#5002.1-1954 DESOTO
ADVENTURER II concept coupe.
S/N 1493762. Red/black leather. Odo:
35,721 miles. 271-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. A concept
car built by Ghia on an Imperial chassis with a
276-ci Hemi engine and automatic transmission.
Well restored and still looks stylish today.
Took Second in Class at Pebble Beach in 2010.
Scratches on windshield base trim, chromedover
pits on exterior door handles. Cond: 1-.
cool and usable, and good thing I did not have
a buyer number today, or I would have less
room in my garage. This was very well bought.
#332-1972 HONDA Z600 coupe. S/N
AZ6001016749. Orange/black vinyl. Odo:
45,196 miles. New paint and chrome. C-pillar
model emblems show poor rechrome. Most
glass shows scratches. Interior not perfect but
better than you'd expect for a 45k-mile econo-
chrome with some plating over pits. Misfit
front grille trim at hood base. Beautiful new
period interior with some chips on steering
wheel paint and some dull dash trim. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $27,500. This was a good-looking
car with a few flaws, but none of them were
what you'd call “serious.” Well bought, considering
the decent condition. You couldn't get
a Tri-Five Chevy wagon for this price.
SOLD AT $1,430,000. These Ghia concepts
for Chrysler were breaking the million-dollar
mark back around the 2007 boom, but prices
have cooled recently. At their 2011 Monterey
auction in August, RM sold the 1952 Chrysler
D'Elegance
183127) and the 1953 Dodge Firearrow III
concept
Considering those results, this was well sold.
box. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $15,950. The Z600
was built 1970 through 1974 and was probably
the most successful super-economy modern-era
car. It helped kick-start Honda's car business in
the U.S. You don't see many good ones, but I
anticipate appreciation in the future for the
best surviving examples. This one was well
bought.
AMERICAN
#329.1-1952 PONTIAC CHIEFTAIN
2-dr sedan. S/N P6WH3125. Green/green &
tan cloth. Odo: 31,844 miles. 239-ci I6, 1-bbl,
auto. Decent newer repaint. Chrome and trim
mostly new and excellent. Pitting noted on vent
pane trim and some interior chrome. Cracks in
steering wheel, plastic covers on original seats.
Said to be a true 32,000-mile car. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $22,000. This looked like the origi-
#5003-1955 FLAJOLE FORERUNNER
concept coupe. S/N S673722. Purple &
white/white leather. Odo: 260 miles. 3.4-L I6,
3x1-bbl, 4-sp. Fiberglass concept built by
William Flajole, advanced styling consultant
for American Motors in 1955. Shows expected
ripples and waves in body panels. Lots of sanding
scratches visible under the paint. Fitted
with Jaguar XK 120 engine and chrome wire
concept for $946,000 (SCM#
for $852,500 (SCM# 183126).
#1257-1957 CHEVROLET BEL AIR
convertible. S/N VC57L152230. Red/black
canvas/red leather. Odo: 81 miles. 6.2-L fuelinjected
V8, auto. Stock-looking, except for the
lowered stance and mag wheels. Very high
level build, with an LS3 fuel-injected V8 with
an automatic trans and new custom leather
bucket-seat interior. Full custom drivetrain and
suspension. All complete and now 81 miles
new. Cond: 1. SOLD AT $264,000. Market
price for a one-off resto-mod is entirely subjective,
but they seem to be doing better and better
at collector car auctions lately. This was huge
money, and it's hard to imagine the price going
up from here, but it was a stunning, brand-new
creation.
wheels. Headlight treatment reminiscent of
Nash. Full louvered hood and side scoops, á la
the Corvette. Some dirt on leather seats. Large
gap at windshield base and at door panels.
Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $200,000. Called
“Coupe Concept Car” in auction catalog, but
with the sliding top panel it's almost a convertible.
Bidding hit a wall at $200,000, and that
was as far as it would go. As a one-of-one,
there's no real “market” price, but the number
today looked appropriate for the quality and
uniqueness.
#690.3-1956 FORD COUNTRY SQUIRE
nal thing in almost time-warp condition. The
6-cylinder powerplant will get better mileage
than a V8, but that doesn't help value as a collectible.
Correctly bought and sold, all things
considered.
70
wagon. S/N M6EY209828. White &
wood/white & red cloth & vinyl. Odo: 91,399
miles. 292-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Some windshield
chips and side-window scratches on full tinted
glass. All new vinyl stick-on wood trims. New
range between the Chrysler and Dodge brands.
DeSoto caught some of the best the company
had to offer, though. They got the Airflow, and
they built the Adventurer. There were only 300
1957 Adventurer convertibles built, and this
Sports Car Market
#5008.1-1957 DESOTO ADVENTURER
convertible. S/N 50417567. Gold/gold &
black cloth & vinyl. Odo: 14,910 miles. 342-ci
V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Great paint and chrome.
Leather interior with fitted luggage. Nardi-style
wood-rim wheel with light cracking on the
logo of the DeSoto center button. Light trim
dent above right rear wheel. Cond: 1-. SOLD
AT $225,500. DeSoto was Chrysler's mid

Page 70

Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale, AZ
was the first American car to produce one
horsepower per cubic inch with the standard
engine. The 345-ci Hemi in all 1957
Adventurers had dual quads and made 345 hp.
This was a high-quality example and fetched a
correct strong price.
#661.1-1959 EDSEL CORSAIR convert-
ible. S/N B9UR737100. Red/white/black & red
vinyl. Odo: 88,337 miles. 332-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Mid-level paint with poor masking and
discolored spots on front fender. Some new
chrome on bumpers, pitting on door handles,
side-glass trim and grille. Dried front door
Hydramatic 400 transmission. Slightly wide
passenger's door gap. On wide whites and
eight lug wheels with some dents on center
caps. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $31,900. High-level
restoration just finished, top and bottom. Good
workmanship, great paint color and wheels,
ready for summer cruising. Considering the
cosmetic appeal and non-original drivetrain,
this sold at a market-correct price.
#662-1962 OLDSMOBILE STARFIRE
2-dr hard top. S/N 626M17205. Black/silver
vinyl. Odo: 84,282 miles. 394-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Fresh thick paint with some bubbles on
top of left front fender and white paint scratches
on right lower panels. Chrome pitting visible
we said the price was “in line with the current
market.” Same story today. Good colors, right
year and right options bring the money.
weatherstrips. Interior shows just OK, with
newer seats and carpet, faded door panels and
scratched and peeling chrome trims. Variable
gaps everywhere. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $33,000.
This was said to run well, and it looked just fine
as a 20-footer. A lot had already been done, but
there was still much work left for the new
owner. Well sold.
4-dr
#461-1961 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
convertible. S/N 1Y86H424204.
Maroon/black vinyl. Odo: 76,685 miles. 430-ci
V8, 2-bbl, auto. Said to have had one repaint,
and that must have been long ago. Now shows
chips, scrapes and pits. Most chrome worn and
checked. Seats and door panels OK, dash
#962.2-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO
Z/28 coupe. S/N 124379N613061. Green/black
vinyl. Odo: 58,514 miles. 302-ci V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. A sort of unrestored surviving original but
with new paint and sub-frame restoration.
Original engine also rebuilt. Mid-level new
paint, and most chrome looks new. Scratches or
on rear trim. Good bucket-seat interior with
cracks on steering wheel. Equipped with polished
Torq Thrusts and undercoating. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $34,650. Top of the Olds lineup in
1962 and still looks good today. It had shiny
paint and a nice, muscular stance. Price was
market-correct for condition.
#965.1-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 30837S110619. Tan/tan vinyl.
Odo: 576 miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp.
Body crack at front headlight and masking
lines visible from repaint. Chip by driver's
door. Some trim dents. Cracks in weatherstriping
and poor fit on rear split-window trim. Dent
in right rear bumper on top and light pitting and
nicks on most glass. Large cracks in steering
wheel and paint cracking on dash top with pad
pulling away. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $41,800.
This was said to be a numbers-matching car. It
looked mostly original, and that is a bit unusual
on a Z/28. At this price, call it fairly sold based
on condition.
RUNNER 2-dr
#1579.1-1969 PLYMOUTH ROAD
hard top. S/N
RM23H9A129871. Tan/black vinyl/tan vinyl.
Odo: 82,811 miles. 383-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp.
Couple of small chips in good newer paint.
New chrome bumpers and wheels. Most trim
shows age, and side glass shows scratches and
shows age, dash pad cracked on both sides.
Rear bumper dented. Rust bubbles by both rear
doors. Cond: 4+. SOLD AT $24,200. The numerous
cosmetic issues (which were obvious)
made me wonder about the state of the mechanicals
(not obvious). I think the winning
bidder threw the dice. If it runs out well, he has
a cheap cruising convertible. If not, think submarine.
#691.1-1961 PONTIAC CATALINA con-
vertible. S/N 361S4389. Coronado Red/white
vinyl/red & white vinyl. Odo: 57,012 miles.
455-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Freshly restored with
new paint, chrome, top and tri-tone interior.
1970s-vintage 455-ci engine with Turbo-
scratches on front bumpers. Wiper scratches on
glass. Armrest chrome worn. Cond: 2-. SOLD
AT $71,500. This appeared to be a mostly
original Corvette with a well applied repaint
held back by mediocre masking and trim removal.
It brought a strong price that I would
call fair.
#963-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194377S110663. Yellow/black
leather. Odo: 375 miles. 427-ci 435-hp V8,
3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Driven less than 400 miles since
restoration in 2002. Some pinholes in paint and
light scratches on tinted glass. New chrome and
trim. Nicely optioned with leather, sidepipes,
435-hp big block, 4-speed and power steering.
Said to be driven occasionally and runs well.
Bloomington Silver award. Cond: 2+. SOLD
AT $122,100. This last sold for $64,900 at
RM's 2002 Monterey auction, not long after the
car's restoration (SCM# 28856). At the time,
72
nicks. Dash and seats are good. Custom steering
wheel fitted. Date code-correct replacement
engine mated to original transmission. Cold air
induction hood. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $28,600.
Not perfect, with a non-original powerplant
and fluffed up a bit for sale, but it still could
make a really good street driver. This sold well,
considering condition.
#951.2-1970 DODGE CHALLENGER T/A
2-dr hard top. S/N JH23J0B305529. Sublime
Green/black vinyl/black vinyl. miles. 340-ci
V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. Dents in hood at hinge
points. Some flaws in new front bumper
Sports Car Market

Bonhams Scottsdale, AZ
The Scottsdale Sale
Notable bargains were led off by a no-reserve 1968 Shelby GT500 coupe,
sold for $70,200
Company
Bonhams
Date
January 19, 2012
Location
Scottsdale, AZ
Auctioneer
Malcolm Barber
Automotive lots sold/offered
46/67
Sales rate
69%
Sales total
$6,852,259
High sale
Duesenberg Model J
convertible sedan, sold at
$700,000
Buyer's premium
1967 Jaguar XKE Series I convertible — sold at $144,500
17% on the first $100,000,
10% thereafter, included in
sold prices
Report and photos by Michael Leven
Market opinions in italics
cars were on offer, and 46 of them found new
homes for a total of $6.8m in sales.
As might be expected from a venerable
B
English auction house, the Scottsdale run
list was heavy on British classics, with eight
Rolls-Royces, including four Phantoms, as
well as two Bentleys. Further, there were
seven Jaguars, running the gamut from a
clapped-out XK 140 MC coupe with nonmatching
wheels that went for $44k, to an absolutely
pristine 1986 XJ6 Vanden Plas only
8,947 sunny Nevada miles from showroom
perfect, which sold for $28,080.
Top seller of the auction was a 1932 Model
J Duesenberg, which sold for $700,000 postblock
after being declared a no-sale with a
high bid of $650,000. Next up was the undeniable
star of the auction, the ex-Marlene
Dietrich 1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom I
Transformal Phaeton with a body by Hibbard
76
onhams came to Scottsdale for the
first time this year, and the company
made a fine impression at The Westin
Kierland Resort & Spa. A total of 67
and Darrin, which sold for $524,000. Other highlights included a wonderful 1923 Isotta
Fraschini Tipo 8 Torpedo Phaeton with coachwork by Sala. It was strategically displayed
directly in front of the auction tent, where everyone could admire its elegance and incredible
inlaid woodwork.
One of the most heavily promoted cars of the sale was a very late production 1967 Porsche
906E, which was a $980,000 no-sale. The car was built with several rare development parts,
had Works history at Sebring with Joe Buzzetta and Peter Gregg as drivers, won the 1967
USRRC 2-Liter Championship, had never been wrecked and had a known ownership since
new. Compared with the far more modestly endowed 906 that Bonhams sold for $898,000 in
Monterey this past August, the consignor was wise to walk away at the price bid.
Other interesting sales included two true barn finds, a 1955 Porsche Speedster and a 1972
De Tomaso Pantera that drew strong bidding, a “bitsa” Stutz Bearcat “Special” that tripled its
low estimate at $139k, and an Abarth 750 GT “Double Bubble” Zagato that made $110k. The
most compelling bidding war was over a 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet “C” which is
finally going home to mainland Europe for the first time since it was built; it sold for $667,000.
Notable bargains were found among the American iron, led off by a no-reserve 1968
Shelby GT500 coupe that went for $70,200, including commission. A couple of handsome hot
rods represented two of the best values on the day. If you were not allergic to Chevy-powered
Fords, a 454-motivated 1955 Lincoln Capri with well done flame paint and white leather
upholstery went for $13,455, all in. Also, an exceptionally well turned-out 1957 Bel Air restomod
with a reported $200k build cost went for $59,670.
Bonhams was able to build this impressive sale and host it during an already busy auction
week. And although other auctions may have brought larger final figures, it's hard to call this
first-time event anything other than a success. ♦
Sports Car Market

Page 76

Bonhams Scottsdale, AZ
ENGLISH
#364-1923 ROLLS-ROYCE 20HP road-
ster. S/N 50S6. Eggshell White/tan canvas/tan
leather. RHD. Odo: 7,605 miles. Older paint,
once to a good standard, now starting to crack
around tonneau rivets and trunk, crazing on
fenders. In general, exterior shows wear and is
no longer crisp. Interior newish and well done,
with nice wood in dash. Engine bay tidy but
shows use and is not detailed. Unique two-seat
coachwork by William Watson & Co. looks
designed by committee but is believed to be
original. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $71,370. At first
glance, this car looked like a non-period re-
lower prices. For a car with a lot of needs and
little financial room left, high bid looked very
generous.
#305-1950 BENTLEY MK VI sports sa-
loon. S/N B87LFU. Eng. # B293F. Black/tan
leather. Odo: 83,608 miles. Very good repaint
with few flaws over excellent prep. Gaps excellent.
Bumpers and grille replated well some
time ago, rest of brightwork with light-tomoderate
pitting. “Yale” brand lock on driver's
door. Newer leather on front seats nicely done.
Driver-quality woodwork with heavily soiled
carpets. Includes what appears to be a complete,
original tool kit. Wide whites soiled but
serviceable. Originally owned by William
Durant Campbell, grandson of William “Billy”
the car no longer qualifies as original, nor is it
especially usable as-is. Sale price was a stunning
result, approaching what you'd expect for
a nicer, vetted Ace, such as the two-time
Colorado Grand car that Gooding sold across
town for $231,000 (SCM# 191580). Very well
sold.
#310-1956 AUSTIN-HEALEY 100-4 M
model roadster. S/N BN2L231026. Eng. #
1B231026. Black & red/black vinyl. Odo:
21,321 miles. An old race car with paint that's
cracked and crazed, but serviceable. Brightwork
relatively sound, given the car has been raced
almost its entire life. Engine compartment tidy
enough. Originally purchased in England by a
U.S. serviceman, who had it upgraded to full
100M spec at the Healey factory in Longbridge
before shipment to America upon his transfer.
Damaged in transit, it was immediately sold to
racer J.C. Kilburn, who already had a 100M on
body: incongruous and even awkward.
(Imagine a proper R-R up to the cowl, but
grafted onto a T-bucket from there back.) But
research by the British R-R Enthusiasts Club
indicates the car was likely born this way. The
exceptionally low house estimate of $40k–$60k
and the dearth of other Watson-bodied cars
might indicate that others share my wonderment.
The catalog's assurance that the car “is
expected to be running in time for the auction”
didn't help confidence. Well sold.
#312-1933 ROLLS-ROYCE 20/25 disappearing
top drophead coupe. S/N GGA29.
Eng. # A8P. Gray & black/black vinyl/red
leather. RHD. Odo: 76,957 miles. Local showquality
paint now has numerous chips and dust
in finish; also cracking at some joints. Gaps are
variable, and abutting body edges are not
straight. Doors shut OK. Most brightwork pitted
and scuffed; rear bumper is orange peeled.
Ancient tires on painted wires covered by polished
discs, which are pitted and dull. Interior
aging but serviceable, with some instrument
Durant, founder of General Motors. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $39,195. This car appears sold
three times in the SCM database: for $25,850
at Christie's 2004 Monterey auction (SCM#
34599); for $19,800 at Christie's 2007
Greenwich, CT, auction (SCM# 45488); and
for $31,900 at RM's 2011 Monterey auction
this past August (SCM# 185498). It's been
around the block, and it seemed a bit dated
mechanically, but it would still be pleasant to
use for rentals, tours or a leisurely drive in the
country. Well bought and sold.
#354-1956 AC ACE roadster. S/N
BEX175. Eng. # 514. Black/white leather.
Odo: 37,409 miles. Low-mileage car with single
ownership for almost 50 years.
Recommissioned with new paint and major
service in past 10 years. Paint applied poorly
over poor prep. Rubber perished. All brightwork
pitted. With modern mirror on fender, modern
gas cap, and third brake light mounted askew
on rear deck. White leather seats in need of
conditioning and new padding. Carpets missing.
Desirable Bristol 6 is stained and dusty. On
order but took delivery of this car instead.
Cond: 3-. NOT SOLD AT $80,000. Great period
history, including several SCCA National
events, albeit with modest success. Campaigned
at the Monterey historics on 10 occasions, but
has been idle since 2006. All systems had reportedly
been checked, repaired, rebuilt or replaced
as needed by the consignor in 2010, and
the car was claimed event-ready. Even so, a
thorough going-over will still be in order, possibly
a five-figure adventure. As such, high bid
was a fair offer.
#331-1966
Vantage
ASTON MARTIN DB6
coupe. S/N DB62389L. Eng. #
4002474V. Gray/black leather. Odo: 6,700
miles. Originally purchased by Bing Crosby.
Nice paint referred to as “gray” but looks like
Silver Birch. Bright trim good, with some pitting;
outside mirror might need re-silvering.
Older carpets in good shape. Gauges clear and
dash face very nice. Refinished cherry steering
wheel said to be original. Dash pad repaired at
left A-pillar. Underhood well detailed and
clean. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $298,500. This sold
at Mecum's 2010 Monterey sale for $318,000
pieces lying on floor. Cond: 3-. NOT SOLD
AT $98,000. A very handsome and rakish
car—positively sporty by early R-R standards.
But with an estimated 75 hp, this “small” Rolls
was mostly show, without much go. Claimed to
have been restored at some point, it's ready for
a serious recommissioning, which will not be
cheap. 20/25s will always play second fiddle to
the bigger Phantoms and therefore command
78
painted wires. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $221,500.
The simple lines of the Ace are timeless, no
doubt aided by the ongoing production of
Cobra replicas. Infrequent use has been both
good and bad to this car: Despite its low miles,
Sports Car Market

Page 78

Bonhams Scottsdale, AZ
seven miles ago (SCM# 165690), which equates
to a haircut of about $50k after fees and transport.
Aston Martin values are a constant bright
spot these days, but the consignor was either
ahead of the market in 2008, or placed too high
a premium on the Crosby connection. Selling
price today is not out of line with the current
DB6 market but is still a little spendy.
#313-1967 JAGUAR XKE Series I con-
vertible. S/N 1E13662. Eng. # 7E105219.
Burgundy/black canvas/black leather. Odo:
87,553 miles. 100 test miles on bare metal rotisserie
restoration. Concours-level paint over
flawless preparation. Excellent gaps. All new
gaskets and seals. Canvas top perfect. Interior
materials and fit done to the highest standards.
Rebuilt engine. Tiniest of nits discernible under
intense scrutiny: Door sills have a very, very
slight wave below the covering; chrome flaking
seemingly good money, but if this time capsule
survives the next 25 years as well preserved, it
will be a wonderful look back at a truly iconic
British saloon.
#307-1989 ASTON MARTIN VANTAGE
Volante convertible. S/N SCFCV81V5KTL15838.
Eng. # V5855838LFM. Black/
black vinyl/black leather. Odo: 10,894 miles.
Very good paint—car displayed outdoors in an
unforgiving sunlight, and paint still looks like
you could dive right into it. Light cracking at
left front of driver's door and left rear fascia;
large nick on left front fender. Good gaps all
around. Brightwork very good. Wood and seats
excellent, with leather looking like it's just
breaking in. Convertible top presents as new.
AT $474,500. Not sold at $350,000 at Bonhams'
2007 Carmel sale, then in orange, with our reporter
recommending a redo (SCM# 46304). It
appears that only the paint was redone; the car
still sports beige leather and its soiled tan top,
with only six miles added. Spirited bidding by
three people in the room took it well past the
$350k high estimate. Price is much higher than
any other recent sale (there are quite a few),
and for a less-than-crisp car, so perhaps an
outlier, not a trend-setter.
GERMAN
#359-1937 MERCEDES-BENZ 540K
Cabriolet C. S/N 236583. Eng. # 154064. Red
& black/black fabric/tan leather. RHD. Odo:
8,627 miles. Sold out of 45-year ownership;
known history from new. Originally commissioned
for the British market. Restored to high
standard in 1981, but paint now cracking and
crazing in several areas. Front fender lights
may not be original; holes in fender indicate a
different shape fitted at one point. Plastic zipties
hold headlight wiring in place. Brightwork
mostly nice, but some is pitting. Tan leather
inviting. Starts up straight away. Comes with
original tool kit and factory-fitted luggage.
from two spokes on the wire wheels. A stunning
presentation. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT
$144,500. This car had it all: great colors, superb
execution and attention to detail, and that
luscious E-type body. It looked like a star ruby
in the late afternoon sun. Sold for huge money
and worth every penny.
#302-1986 JAGUAR XJ6 Series III
sedan. S/N SAJAV134XGC453904.
Beige/beige leather. Odo: 8,947 miles. Original,
ultra low-mile Series III XJ with sunroof and
factory alloys. Presents as nearly new; showroom-quality,
save for a few door dings, lightly
discolored carpet and faintly soiled leather.
Nearly imperceptible rippling of body panels,
likely from the factory. Interior paint, glass and
wood excellent. Recent full service with new
shock bushings and a/c compressor. Very nicely
detailed underneath. The Series III cars bene-
Comes with factory fitted luggage. Said to be
one of 166 V8 Vantage Volantes built over the
entire model run, only 89 of which are LHD,
with a mere 58 copies sent stateside. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $150,000. The car presented almost
as new and would be equally at home tooling
down Rodeo Drive or rocketing across the
Autobahn. Recent
transactions on AM V8
Vantages show a significant jump in pricing
over the past couple of years, no doubt coattailing
on the rapid rise of their older brethren.
Well bought and sold, perhaps with a slight
advantage to the buyer.
FRENCH
#327-1947 DELAHAYE 135M cabriolet.
S/N 800954. Eng. # 95200. Dark blue/tan
canvas/beige leather. RHD. Odo: 1,256 km.
Unmistakable Figoni et Falaschi coachwork.
Dark blue paint nicely applied with only very
slight rippling. Trim mostly nice; left door strip
flaking, starting to pit. Lower front fender caps
rough on edges. Rust around right lower taillight
bezel. Chrome wires dingy and need refurbishment.
Wide whites badly stained. Top
fits well with some staining. Front seats nicely
creased but need cleaning; rears still newish
but drying. Fantastic Art Deco dash with orange
acrylic knobs and dials. Cond: 2+. SOLD
Cond: 3. SOLD AT $667,000. The big Benzes
have always been favorites of mine, and while
the Cabriolet C is not Sindelfingen's most elegant
work, it's still a powerful and distinguished
design. Three phone bidders from three continents
slugged this one out in $10k–$20k increments
for an extended period, with auctioneer's
final calls made several times, only for a new
bid to emerge. In the end, the hammer price
came in right at the $600k high estimate, and
the car will be going back to Europe for the
first time since it was built. Well bought and
sold.
#349-1954 PORSCHE 356 bent-window
fited from a Pininfarina face lift and Bosch injection
and electricals (albeit made under
license by Lucas). Cond: 1-. SOLD AT
$28,080. A first-rate presentation of a beautiful
car in elegant and understated colors. The
condition told of a pampered life in a temperature-controlled
Las Vegas garage. It sold for
80
coupe. S/N 52410. Eng. # 33413. Black/red
leather. Odo: 456 miles. Restored 20 years ago
with more recent respray well applied, but prep
marks not difficult to see up close, run noted on
passenger's door and numerous touch-ups on
door edges. Some rippling of body panels
likely original. Tight gaps. Original leatherette
re-dyed, showing nice patina. Steering wheel
now cracking. Dash includes rare manually
operated pneumatic fuel gauge, plus original
Telefunken radio. With Porsche Certificate of
Authenticity. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $93,600. As
it was prominently positioned inside the first
Sports Car Market

Page 80

Bonhams Scottsdale, AZ
scuffed. All new seals. New carpet, re-dyed
seats are dry. Original door panels in good
shape. Good underbody detailing. Engine now
with non-original C case rebuilt to correct SC
color. Abundant documentation, including numerous
manuals, service records and possibly
the build card. U.S. delivery car, but with
European taillights and bumpers. Right side
mirror (from U.K.?) no doubt useful, but
tent, you could not miss this very nice coupe in
black over red. By 1954, Porsche's total production
was still under 2,000 units, and while
they were building more and more of their own
parts, these cars still show many of the quirks
of their more pedestrian forebears. Prices reflect
this. This car was nice but was neither
original nor newly restored. High bid was
slightly generous and landed right in the middle
of the somewhat optimistic $85k–$105k estimate.
Well sold.
#306-1955 PORSCHE 356A Speedster.
S/N 80697. Eng. # P35285. Silver/black
canvas/black vinyl. Odo: 66,714 miles. In storage
for over 10 years, then disassembled and
stored for another 13 years. Dirty, dusty, but all
there, including trim and rare Plasticon fiberglass
top. Vinyl soft top looks serviceable, interior
not. Gauges clear and bright. Cheap,
undersized aftermarket steering wheel and
cheesy wood shift knob. Front clip replaced
from headlights forward. Replacement floors
and battery box included. Longitudinals look
OK. Looks like a reasonable base for a restoration.
Cond: 4. SOLD AT $100,620. For a while
specs. Exhaust pipes too long. Cond: 2. SOLD
AT $133,500. A strong presentation let down
by inattention to detail. Don't get me wrong—
I'd love to have it in my garage, but there were
hints of rushed finish work here. Considering
that, along with the non-matching engine, this
sold for all the money.
#342-1967 PORSCHE 906E long-nose,
short-tail racer. S/N 906159. Eng. # 910032.
Blue/black cloth. RHD. Late-development,
fuel-injected, long-nose/short-tail 906 debuted
at the 1967 Sebring 12 Hours driven by Joe
Buzzetta and Peter Gregg. Then the 1967
USRRC under-2-liter champ with Scooter
Patrick. Recently restored by Porsche specialist
Robert Hatchman's Autocraft to very high
level. Only testing miles since. Paint better
than race standard. Some road rash, some
cracking to bodywork. New plexi backlight.
Unique rear-view mirror, as in period. Modern
perhaps not correct. Manual transmission and
correct dealer-installed a/c a plus. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $52,650. Full confession — I have
owned a 280SL for almost 10 years now, and
despite the occasional “Isn't that a chick car?”
comment, I am an unabashed fan of these
sturdy roadsters. And with prices on the upswing,
I don't mind a little feather ruffling. With
good power and a lot of usable torque, they
handle modern traffic with ease. Lot 330 looked
to be an honest, usable example of the type with
a couple of harmless liberties taken. The new
owner should get plenty of joy from this purchase.
Well bought and sold.
#314-1969 PORSCHE 911S coupe. S/N
119300089. White/black cloth. Odo: 64,485
miles. Very well-looked-after racing 911, with
fit and finish to better-than-race-car standards.
Built up for vintage events from a real S street
car in the early 1990s. Clearcoat paint shows
miscellaneous rock chips and stars, per use.
Interior painted red with black cloth seat. 225hp
2-L engine built by Pacific Northwest
Porsche guru Dick Elverude. Fitted with mechanical
injection, later close-ratio 915 gearbox
and 930 brakes. Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT
$61,000. Owned and campaigned by profes-
it looked like somebody was going to steal this
car, but bidding finally picked up. Even if the
work is farmed out and done to a nice driver
standard, the new owner will not be underwater
forever. And if he can do some of the heavy
work, there could even be a near-term upside.
Alternatively, a mechanical refurbishment and
sympathetic cosmetic work could make for a
rough but cool driver. Lots of options. Well
bought and sold.
#319-1964 PORSCHE 356SC Cabriolet.
S/N 159600. Eng. # P713267. Ruby Red/black
canvas/black leather. Odo: 1,910 miles.
Beautiful Ruby Red paint nicely applied over
less-than-perfect prep. Tonneau rivets not removed
when painted, chipping noted around
edges. Brightwork nicely polished but with
some scratching still visible. Rocker trim
82
duct hose in well-detailed engine bay looks incorrect.
No odo, mileage unknown. Cond: 2+.
NOT SOLD AT $980,000. One of the last 906s
built by the factory, one of nine E models, and
one of four in this body configuration. Slide
valve mechanical injection said to add only 10
hp but with much improved drivability. 906s
captured many victories over their short run.
The few recent sales have been between $800k
and $900k, but the reserve here was rumored to
be $1.2m. Even with great history, known ownership,
unique specs, and a nice restoration,
that would have been a strong result. High bid
was light, but probably not by much.
#330-1969 MERCEDES-BENZ 280SL
convertible. S/N 11304410004415. White/
Black canvas/black vinyl. Odo: 32,868 miles.
According to the auction description, the white
paint has been “refreshed” (which based on
discussions with the sellers agent I believe to
mean “color sanded”) and looks very good.
Black “Pagoda” top also nice and in original
sional-caliber driver Monte Shelton. If you
ever thought you had talent and simply wanted
to buy your way to the front of the grid, this was
as close to a turn-key deal as you could hope
for. Built and developed by people who've forgotten
more about how to go fast than most
folks know, this was a weapons-grade piece
through and through. The lack of period racing
history probably held things back, but it was
still worth more than the high bid.
#365-1987 PORSCHE 962 racer. S/N
RLR962106B. Eng. # 956348. Turquoise &
Sports Car Market

Page 82

Bonhams Scottsdale, AZ
white/black cloth. RHD. Ex-Richard Lloyd
Racing. This was the replacement chassis for
RLR962106; the “B” chassis continued with
the history from the original tub, per note on
car prior to auction. Paint as last raced in 1991;
numerous chips and cracks throughout bodywork.
Bare metal interior with black cloth seat.
Twin-turbo engine with water-cooled heads,
presumably to Group C specs, as the car
another for $93,500 at RM Monterey (SCM#
185486)—but as the underbidder, you'd expect
me to think so, wouldn't you? Well sold, but really
only bought too soon.
#308-1964 FIAT 1500 convertible. S/N
028911. Eng. # 115005. Red/black vinyl/tan
leather. Odo: 91,691 miles. Repaint looks to
have been done with trim off and engine out,
very nicely done; seller's rep claims it has been
color-sanded, and I do not doubt that. Rare factory
hard top painted black, but not recently,
with rubbers badly perished and trim severely
pitted. Brightwork on car largely good, with
minor prep scratches visible under rechromed
bumpers. Right rear taillight cracked. Seats recently
redone in tan leather and lightly broken
in. Aftermarket Veglia tach mounted over steering
column is no doubt useful, but likely incor-
spent its last few years racing in Japan. No odo,
mileage unknown. Cond: 3-. NOT SOLD AT
$400,000. 962106B was built by Richard Lloyd
Racing using an in-house chassis designed by
Nigel Stroud. The RLR cars were unique in
many ways, mainly being lighter and stiffer
than the 962s from Zuffenhausen, and among
the privateer teams had more success against
the factory Rothmans cars than most. This car
was a no-sale last summer at Bonhams' 2011
Quail Lodge auction (SCM# 184607, high bid
unknown), and the same held true here. NonRothmans
cars will sell for $600k–$800k, and
this car's condition and convoluted history
likely held it back.
ITALIAN
#352-1958 FIAT-ABARTH ZAGATO
750 GT “double bubble” coupe. S/N 497034.
Eng. # 517332. Red/black leather. Odo: 38,516
miles. Recent restoration likely better than factory
but not overdone. Good paint with lack of
sheen likely appropriate for the period. Shown
at Pebble Beach in 1992 but disassembled for
more detailed rebuild. Too nice to thrash on the
track, but still could be enjoyed on the street.
Three owners from new. Cond: 2. SOLD AT
$111,150. These cars were a bargain for a
while; now prices are rising and reflect their
coachbuilt status and unique Zagato design.
down-force. Three-time consecutive winner of
“Mini Cooper/Fiat Abarth/Lotus Challenge.”
Cond: 3. SOLD AT $46,800. There was no indication
that this car was born as an Abarth,
Corsa or 1,000-cc model, but it has its vintage
racing papers and much success on track.
Price paid was under the $50k low estimate,
which might reflect doubts about originality
and future appreciation
Regardless, this will be an affordable and
highly effective weapon on the vintage racing
scene, and with that in mind, well bought. See
profile on p. 60.
AMERICAN
#304-1902 OLDSMOBILE CURVED-
DASH runabout. S/N N/A. Eng. # 7815. Red
& black/black leather. MHD. Recent restoration
shows well. Bright red paint to regional
show quality. Brass headlights with nice patina.
Deep-buttoned black leather seat is nicely done
and looks reasonably hospitable. White tires.
Equipped with an electric starter. Wide stance
and high clearance designed to deal with road
conditions of the day. Had difficulty starting
before the auction, but ran fine once fuel lines
were flushed. Reportedly a London-to-Brighton
veteran. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $76,050. Widely
credited as being the first mass-produced car,
rect. Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT $21,000. This
car
was
a
$32,500
no-sale
at Mecum's
Monterey sale last August, where my notes
read, “While it was nice and it appeared to
need nothing, this looked like all the money in
the world for one of these cars. Should have
sold for a lot less than the high bid” (SCM#
184018). The market has spoken again, and the
consignor should have taken the very generous
bid last summer. The price guides have these
solidly under $20,000, so it may now be very
difficult to move within today's $25k–$35k estimated
range.
#303-1967 FIAT ABARTH TC Berlina
Corsa 2-dr
sedan. S/N 1667. Eng. #
M12A2000/003174. White & yellow/black
vinyl. Odo: 1,799 miles. A sanitary build, finished
to typical race-car standard. “Abarth
West” sticker on windshield. Fitted with Abarth
intake manifold, radiator and gearbox, along
with front-mounted oil cooler and Campagnolo
mags. Permanent rear wing molded into body-
19,000 or so of these simple little runabouts
found buyers over their seven-year production
run. 2011 sales of these cars include $60,500
for a finished car at RM's Hershey event (SCM#
186097) and $32,113 for a project at Bonhams'
Beaulieu sale (SCM# 187551), so this sale
looks about right. A relatively inexpensive and
vetted entry into London-to-Brighton and as
such, this was a fair deal all around, with a
slight edge to the seller.
This car spent all but a few years of its life with
the second owner in Arizona, so it would be a
great platform for restoration. Not sure it was
worth 15% more than the two sold last summer—one
for $94,185 at Bonhams' 2011
Westport sale in September (SCM# 185950);
84
work, although racers in period usually just
propped up the engine cover for cooling and
#341-1932 PACKARD DELUXE EIGHT
Model 904 Convertible Victoria. S/N 194181.
Eng. # 194200. Burgundy/tan canvas/tan
leather. Odo: 61 miles. Said to be one of only
four Dietrich Convertible Victorias built. Paint,
chrome and trim present as faultless. Tan
leather seats buttery smooth. Four-place interior
surprisingly compact for such a large car.
Long, low canvas roof well fitted and taut.
Engine compartment fully detailed and polished.
Restored in 1999 and still concoursready.
Stunning presentation. From the
O'Quinn Collection. Cond: 1. NOT SOLD AT
$650,000. This car stood out from everything
around it with a presence few cars could
Sports Car Market
as a collectible.

Gooding & Co. Scottsdale, AZ
The Scottsdale Auction
The buzz was palpable, with the first alloy 300SL Gullwing offered at auction
in years, as well as examples of most of the recognizable blue-chip motors
Company
Gooding & Company
Date
January 20–21, 2012
Location
Scottsdale, AZ
Auctioneer
Charlie Ross
Automotive lots sold/offered
116/118
Sales rate
98%
Sales total
$39,643,900
High sale
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL
alloy Gullwing, sold at
$4,620,000
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL alloy Gullwing coupe — sold at $4,620,000
Report and photos by Donald Osborne
Market opinions in italics
I
t is still a thrill to encounter cliffhanger sessions in
a sale mostly consisting of reserve lots. Last year,
Gooding & Company's brilliant auctioneer Charlie
Ross was forced to pass eight lots in the Friday
session, but he went on to ring up a perfect score on
Saturday. This year, Friday's session saw Gooding run
from pole to flag without a miss.
Saturday then became a case of “can they do it again
and shift every car?” But two pesky spoilers popped up
to keep it from happening. The company had to settle for
a 98% sales rate, while setting 13 world record auction
prices in the process.
The assortment of consignments was arguably
the best in Gooding's five year history of hosting the
Scottsdale auction. The buzz was palpable, with the first
alloy 300SL Gullwing offered at auction in years, as
well as examples of most of the recognizable blue-chip
motors one could name. 300SL? Two Gullwings and two
roadsters, check. Duesenberg? Sure, a Model J Murphy
Disappearing Top Convertible. Lamborghini Miura? An
ultimate spec SV on hand. Ferrari California Spyder?
OK, it was “only” an LWB, open headlight model, but
that's all right. You get the idea.
Interestingly, while the dollar total was up 13% over
2011 and the aforementioned sales rate improved by 6%,
that volume was achieved with fewer lots, 116 versus 121,
and one fewer car sold over $1m than last year. But the
top four sales of 2012 beat the $2m high sale of 2011.
Led by the $4.6m alloy Gullwing, which for another year
gave Gooding & Company the high sale of the week
88
crown, they included that Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder at a respectable $3.9m, a
$2.64m world record for the Murphy roadster Duesenberg Model J Disappearing Top,
and the $2.2m paid for a very imposing 1929 Bentley 4½ Litre Dual Cowl Sports Tourer.
Despite the number of records set by the star cars, the supporting consignments
were finding new homes at appropriate, market-correct levels.
The two unlucky lots that spoiled the party were a lovely but somewhat out-of-favor
1957 Pontiac Bonneville fuel-injected convertible, which suffered bidder starvation at
$120k, and a 1927 Bentley 6½ Litre Sports Tourer, which was passed at $1.75m.
A pair of potentially market-moving world record transactions included a 1956
Lancia Aurelia B24S convertible selling for what had been B24 Spider America territory
at $561k, and a 1971 Maserati Ghibli Spyder that cruised close to the magic $1m
at $880k.
In addition to the records, there were also bargains to be had. These included the
one-off 1948 Derham-bodied Dodge D24 Club Coupe that graced the lawn at Pebble
Beach last summer, bought for a less-than-costof-restoration
$60,500; a 1967 Rolls-Royce
Silver Shadow coupe formerly owned by the
Nethercutt Collection at $33,000, and the buy of
the sale, an NCRS Bowtie preservation awardwinning
1963 Corvette 327/340 roadster that
went to a fortunate new owner for $55,000.
David Gooding observed that one of the fac-
Sales Totals
tors driving the market for his company is the
number of new clients who are coming in at the
top level. Enthusiasts who have made the leap
from passing interest to serious compulsion are
eagerly making a transfer of assets into the best
cars they can find. And with that in mind, the
results from Arizona will have us looking with
interest as the new season moves to the East. ♦
$5m
$10m
$15m
$20m
$25m
$30m
$35m
0
Sports Car Market
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
Buyer's premium
10%, included in sold prices

Page 88

Gooding & Co. Scottsdale, AZ
ENGLISH
#8-1937 JAGUAR SS 100 2½ Litre
tourer. S/N 49026. Eng. # L1012E. Dark
green/beige canvas/brown leather. RHD. Odo:
37,811 miles. Well restored and nicely maintained
and presented. Paint shows minute
flaws. Chrome is excellent, with a few areas of
wear. Superb interior. The 2007 JCNA Pre-War
with air conditioning and in a very attractive
color. Interest was high, and the result showed
it, approaching the $500k high estimate. At this
price in the current market, well sold.
FRENCH
#138-1927 BUGATTI TYPE 38A tourer.
champion. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $319,000. A
charismatic early Jaguar, imported to the U.S.
shortly after WWII. The SS 100 is welcome at
all vintage rallies and is an absolute hoot to
drive. With a bit of freshening, this one could
also be a concours champion again. Well
bought below the market-correct low estimate
of $325k.
#14-1957 AC ACE Bristol roadster. S/N
BEX329. Eng. # 100D682. Bright blue
metallic/black leather. Odo: 86,715 miles.
Panel fit slightly variable. Excellent paint, very
good chrome shows some light scratches on
windshield frame. Seats have nice patina, some
heavier wear on wood steering wheel rim.
Retains correct original engine, as confirmed
by the AC Registry during preview. Car was
once owned by well-known gentleman racer
Bob Fergus. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $231,000. A
very appealing Bristol-powered Ace in a great
color. Interest in Aces (especially the Bristol
variety) has risen significantly in the past few
years, and deservedly so. This one sold right at
a market price that was fair for seller and
buyer alike.
#129-1968
ASTON MARTIN DB6
Vantage coupe. S/N DB63340LC. Eng. #
4003437VC. Dubonnet Red/black leather.
Odo: 91,440 miles. Excellent panel fit. Very
good paint shows some minor prep issues, most
notably on A-pillar drip rails. Nice chrome. Old
windshield rubber reused after spraying and
shows wear. Superb interior, with factory a/c.
Cond: 2. SOLD AT $489,500. A very desirable
DB6: left-hand drive, Vantage-spec, equipped
90
This felt like an unmolested, “lived-in” example,
presentable without being sharp. That it's a
Series II means that taller drivers, too, can
wedge themselves behind the wheel. The 507
has established its market price in the past few
seasons and is firmly in the $1m range. Across
town, another 507 sold at RM for $990,000
(SCM# 192669).
Sports Car Market
SOLD AT $495,000. The convoluted engine
history is common in the world of Bugattis, but
what was done matters less than how it was
documented, and this car passed the tests of
marque expert David Sewell. Quite appealing,
really, and it looked like it would be fun family
transport. This looked like a big price to pay
for a Type 38, especially one without early history,
but, multiple bidders wanted to own it.
Well sold.
GERMAN
#125-1937 BMW 328 roadster. S/N 85135.
Eng. # 85209. White/black leather. Odo: 14,577
km. Good panel fit. Generally good paint shows
chips on leading edge of left door and front
edge of hood, plus some bubbling on rear cowl
ness and mechanical sorting. Cond: 1-. SOLD
AT $4,620,000. Early production lightweight
alloy Gullwings have always been prized. Since
most were raced and damaged, this example's
lack of a track record was a benefit. As it was
superbly restored and presented, no one
doubted it would make the $2.5m low estimate.
And that it almost doubled it is no real wonder
in this current market, which richly rewards the
rare and well done.
#115-1958 BMW 507 Series II roadster.
S/N 70183. Eng. # 40184. Navy blue/red vinyl.
Odo: 77,304 miles. Very good panel fit. Shiny
paint shows small adhesion bubbling in areas.
Chrome is fair, with many pieces lightly faded
and pitted. Interior is clean with very bright
vinyl on the seats. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT
$962,500. BMW's beauty queen of the 1950s.
S/N 38444. Eng. # 12. Aubergine/dark red
leather. RHD. A very handsome tourer wearing
restrained Figoni coachwork. Good panel fit,
with doors slightly out at rear edges. Very good
paint and bright trim. Seats comfortably broken
in, instruments clear. No odometer, mileage
unknown. Fitted with replacement non-supercharged
engine of correct type. Cond: 2-.
aft of seats. Worn front badge, other bright trim
good. Some fading on instruments, rest of interior
is nice. Volvo gearbox fitted. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $517,000. The most famous and desirable
pre-war sporting BMW, in demand for
every international event. This example had
been well restored for event presentation and
showed signs of appropriate use. Sold right in
current market range, correctly priced.
TOP 10
No. 1
#27-1955 MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL
Alloy Gullwing coupe. S/N 1980435500208.
Eng. # 9898055002181.
Silver/blue-gray plaid cloth & blue leather.
Odo: 2,069 miles. Excellent panel fit, paint,
chrome. Superb interior. With fitted luggage
and factory Rudge wheels. Ex-Ken McBride,
one of 29 built. Recently gone over for correct

Page 90

Gooding & Co. Scottsdale, AZ
#103-1959 MERCEDES-BENZ 220S
convertible. S/N 180030109509792.
Cream/black canvas/red leather. Odo: 10,832
miles. Generally good paint has small cracks
on hood, light polish scratches. Very good
chrome, although some light pitting noted in
areas. Consistent panel gaps, except trunk wide
on right. Very well finished wood trim. Nicely
executed seats and door panels done in incor-
rect grain leather. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $92,400.
The high-line ponton convertible and coupe are
elegant cars with superb details. They are
vastly expensive to restore correctly, and values
can vary widely. This one was a mellowing
older restoration not done to the highest standards,
but it was nonetheless attractive. For a
very pretty driver, well bought.
#121-1960 MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL
roadster. S/N 19804210002442. Eng. #
19898010002490. Red/tan leather. Odo: 73,732
miles. Excellent panel fit. Good paint shows
polishing rub-through in places, touched-in
chips on hood and right rear fender, stone rash
on nose. Nice chrome shows some light
scratching and fading. Very good interior, with
original Becker radio. Underhood data plates
films over the years, but this one is the actual
“hero car” from “Herbie Goes to Monte
Carlo,” with known provenance. The owner
wisely resisted the temptation to restore it, so it
still shows its studio use. For a really dynamic
display, I would suggest the new owner track
down “Giselle,” the Lancia Scorpion with
whom Herbie fell in love. A well bought piece
of minor film and automotive history.
#156-1966 MERCEDES-BENZ 230SL
convertible. S/N 11304210014851. Eng. #
12798110011999.
Ivory/Dark brown
canvas/brown vinyl. Odo: 71,643 miles.
Excellent panel gaps. Very good original paint
is well preserved. Generally very good chrome
shows some scratching and light pitting in
areas. Some perished rubber trim, delamination
in top corner of windshield. Very good interior
let down only by some lumps in edge of seat
backs. Superb dashboard, with effortless venti-
except trunk lid off in lower right corner and
right door out a bit at rear edge. Paint shows
some adhesion bubbling on rear edge of left
door near bottom, but is otherwise well applied.
Very good chrome, including incorrect 300SE
wheelarch trim. Nice interior is let down by
small random glue marks on instrument-surround,
crooked speedometer and incorrect twotone
wood on radio speaker. Cond: 2-. SOLD
AT $176,000. The final iteration of the big
Mercedes W111 convertible—the spiritual descendant
of the pre-war 500 and 540 and the
300S of the '50s. These are fabulous cars to
drive and are a reminder of just how well
Mercedes once built cars. This one was very
nice but felt just a bit unloved, and with some
attention it could be quite a bit better. I'll call it
well sold, and first thing to do is lose that
wheelarch trim.
ITALIAN
#154-1955 FERRARI 250 EUROPA GT
coupe. S/N 0405GT. Eng. # 1585GT. Navy
blue/tobacco leather. Odo: 91,365 km. Panel fit
excellent, as is paint. Very good chrome, except
for minor scratches on rear bumper. Superb interior,
down to the detail of the correct clips on
the heater hoses. Fitted with circa-1959 outside-plug
engine. The 1955 Paris Motor Show
car. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $797,500. The 250
fastened with mismatched screws. SOLD AT
$660,000. I always prefer to see a preserved
original car rather than an abandoned “barn
find.” This SL reportedly spent 45 years in the
hands of its first owner and remained very
original in presentation. It sat a bit low on
somewhat tired springs, but was still totally
appealing. Priced appropriately just over the
$650k low estimate. Well bought and sold.
#157-1963 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
“Herbie the Love Bug” 2-dr sedan. S/N
5646797. Gray/gray vinyl. Odo: 93,223 miles.
Variable panel fit. Somewhat mottled paint
shows various rubs, dings, bumps and
scratches. Chrome fair, most pieces show light
pitting. Interior worn, but not excessively so.
Many signs evident of modifications for filming,
like camera mounts and access cutouts.
Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $66,000. One of dozens of
“Love Bugs” built for various uses in several
92
Sports Car Market
lation sliders. Some small cracking on steering
wheel. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $74,250. Late 230
SL, a rare U.S.-delivery manual gearbox
model. Amazingly conserved, it presents as a
lightly used late-model car. Recipient of Zenith
Award at Survivor Collector Car Show in 2010.
Unrepeatable. Perhaps the colors ivory and
brown, which I loved, held down interest. Very
well bought.
#106-1971 MERCEDES-BENZ 280SE
3.5 convertible. S/N 11102712001721. Eng. #
11698012001483. Red/black/beige leather.
Odo: 65,609 miles. Generally good panel fit,
Europa and Europa GT can be counted as
Ferrari's first true customer “production”
cars, leading the way for the panoply of 250
variants that followed for the next decade. This
one had very good provenance and was well
presented. The engine replacement certainly
held down the value, but not as much as some
might have thought. Appropriately sold, and I
think a bit well bought.
#132-1956 LANCIA AURELIA B24S
convertible. S/N B24S1205. Eng. # B241321.
Gray metallic/black canvas/red leather. Odo:
35,851 miles. Excellent panel fit, paint and
chrome. Superb interior, let down only by a
minor detail issue with dashboard-top welting.

Page 92

Gooding & Co. Scottsdale, AZ
Fresh restoration by Metal Works and Tony
Nicosia of Costa Mesa, CA. Cond: 1-. SOLD
AT $561,000. The level of this restoration was
truly impressive—both cosmetically and mechanically,
almost impossible to fault. The
price
difference
between
the
240 Spider
America models built and the 521 convertibles
has long seemed a bit too wide. While this price
is for now an anomaly, the car was a great one.
TOP 10
No. 2
#143-1959 FERRARI 250 GT LWB
California Spyder convertible. S/N
1505GT. Eng. # 1505GT. White/dark
blue canvas/dark blue leather. Odo: 60,415 km.
Restored almost 25 years ago by Bill Pound
Automotive, well maintained and freshened
since. Panel fit and paint are near perfect.
Chrome very good, with correct rough inside
castings. Excellent seats, door panels, carpet-
ing and instruments; factory-standard finishing
flaws on dashboard. Cond: 1. SOLD AT
$3,905,000. A spectacular presentation in elegant
and effective colors, and almost yachtlike.
SWB Cal Spyders bring more than these
LWB open-headlight cars, but I wouldn't kick
this one out of bed. The car previously sold at
Bonhams' 2002 Geneva sale for $628,603
(SCM# 27306). Incredible appreciation in just
10 years. Well sold and bought.
#142-1961 MASERATI 3500 GT coupe.
S/N AM1011496. Metallic blue/beige leather.
Odo: 41,318 km. Superb panel fit, except trunk
lid high on right side. Attractive paint is somewhat
unevenly applied. Excellent chrome.
Interior very well trimmed and beautifully presented,
except for some minor window rubber
and headliner edge issues. One of two similar
cars bodied by Frua, and the only one still ex-
of 66 “7-Litri” Grifos built. Cond: 2-. SOLD
AT $352,000. The 7-liter Corvette V8 that
powered the Grifo was intended to make it
competitive with the Miura and Daytona, but
the car is actually closer to the racing Grifo
AC3 and Bizzarrini in aggression. While a few
details of the restoration disappointed, this was
very well presented. A strong price, but worth
it.
tant. Dramatic styling, reminiscent of a
Maserati 5000 GT. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT
$302,500. This car had well-researched history
by marque experts and will be a sure entry to
concours events worldwide, once the paint issues
are sorted. Bought at the $300k low estimate,
which leaves room for improvement.
Correctly sold.
94
AMERICAN
#127-1957 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE
convertible. S/N P857H35445. White &
red/white vinyl/white & red leather. Odo:
55,588 miles. 347-ci fuel injected V8, auto.
Very well restored to a high level a few years
ago, still presents well. High-quality paint,
shiny chrome. Very good panel fit, with right
Sports Car Market
Collection from 1997–2007. Cond: 1-. SOLD
AT $82,250. The 1960 Cadillac is, in my opinion,
one of the most beautiful American cars of
the period. It has all the presence of the '59
without the cartoon fins. This car was superbly
restored and presented, and it was one of my
favorites of the sale. The new owner has a
prize. Well bought.
2-dr
#107-1967 CADILLAC ELDORADO
hard top. S/N H7183833. Capri
Aqua/Navy blue vinyl/blue cloth & leather.
Odo: 17,686 miles. 429-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Said
to have a documented 17,686 miles from new.
Very well maintained and sympathetically
SOLD AT $1,100,000. Originally owned by
Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, this was the 12th
of 36 cars built. These remarkable supercars
are as impressive today as when new, and they
have a romance which is hard to match.
Gooding sold this car at Amelia Island in 2010,
where it brought $814,000 (SCM# 159986).
400 kilometers later, it's a million. Even if the
seller paid a 10% commission, it's still a handy
10.5% return on investment, not at all bad in
today's world. A fair deal for all.
#18-1969 ISO GRIFO coupe. S/N 920242.
Violet/parchment leather. Odo: 46,245 miles.
Very good paint shows a few small flaws.
Somewhat variable panel fit. Bright trim nice
overall. Interior very good to excellent. The
1969 New York Auto Show car, reportedly one
TOP 10
No. 7
#22-1965 FERRARI 500
SUPERFAST coupe. S/N 6049SA.
Eng. # 6049SA. Silver/black leather.
Odo: 65,007 km. Excellent panel fit. Very good
paint has a few flaws and minor overspray on
reused windshield gasket. Good chrome shows
some wear and scratches. Interior has a nice
patina overall and heavier wear on the wood
console. Chassis Data tag says SF, catalog SA;
early cars had the latter designation. Cond: 2-.
door and trunk slightly out. Dashboard excellent,
slight soiling on front seat. Cond: 2+.
NOT SOLD AT $120,000. One of the most
desirable, high-performance Pontiacs of the
1950s. It's been through the saleroom a couple
of times, selling for $137,500 at RM's Phoenix
auction in 2007 (SCM# 44065), and a $140,000
no-sale at Gooding's 2010 Pebble Beach sale
(SCM# 165699). This time bidding stalled at
$120k, making it one of only two unsold lots at
the auction. High bid would seem to indicate
the current market for this car.
#17-1960 CADILLAC SERIES 62 con-
vertible. S/N 60F122193. Metallic teal/white
vinyl/white leather. Odo: 97,797 miles. 390-ci
V8, 2-bbl, auto. Excellent panel fit and paint.
Very good chrome. Only item letting down the
otherwise excellent interior is some light wear
on dashboard chrome trim. Formerly owned by
Mark Miller, lead singer of the country music
band Sawyer Brown; then in the Al Wiseman

RM Auctions Scottsdale, AZ
Automobiles of Arizona
This was RM's 13th auction at the Arizona Biltmore, and superstitions can be
set aside, as the results were very favorable indeed
Company
RM Auctions
Date
January 19–20, 2012
Location
Phoenix, AZ
Auctioneer
Max Girardo
Automotive lots sold/offered
126/140
Sales rate
90%
Sales total
$25,660,400
High sale
1957 Ferrari 410
Superamerica coupe, sold at;
$1,815,000
Buyer's premium
1959 BMW 507 Series II roadster — sold at $990,000
Report and photos by Carl Bomstead
Market opinions in italics
T
he Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa, the site of
RM's annual auction, is one of the world's most
renowned hotels. It opened in 1929 and was designed
by Albert McArthur, who studied under
Frank Lloyd Wright for several years. While the resort
is wonderful, the parking garage, where the cars often
are displayed, is not. With this year's glorious desert
weather during auction week, however, the majority of
the cars were able to be displayed on the grass in front
of the Biltmore.
Ferraris were out in force, with 10 examples pre-
sented. The 1957 410 Superamerica was the event's top
seller at $1,815,000. The Ferrari had an unusual story,
as it was once stolen and had its unique body removed.
The chassis with the engine was acquired by noted
Ferrari collector and Hollywood television director
Greg Garrison, who had an identical body created by
four retired Scaglietti workers. See the profile on p. 46.
A Ferrari F40 Berlinetta first owned by Lee Iacocca
and with less than 300 miles on the odometer spurred
lively bidding and was hammered sold at a record price
of $781,000. The value was, of course, in the limited use,
so driving the car will be expensive indeed. In addition,
a 1973 Daytona Spyder that had not been offered for sale
in 23 years realized $990,000.
Seven Porsches were offered, and a sensational
Reutter-built 356A 1600 Speedster sold for $335,500. It
was restored to exacting standards by a noted marque
100
expert and is considered to be one of, if not the best, in existence. A 356C/1600 SC
Cabriolet, finished in Light Ivory with black leather seating, realized $165,000, continuing
the positive trend for properly restored 356s.
A 1993 Jaguar XJ 220S sold for $230,000, and the buyer was thrilled, as he felt
he bought the rare performance Jaguar supercar at a slight premium over an XJ 220.
The standard XJ 220 had an aluminum body, but the six 220S that were constructed
replaced the original panels with carbon fiber, and a front splitter was added as well as
an adjustable rear spoiler. In addition, the twin-turbo V6 was tweaked to produce an
exhilarating 680 horsepower.
If there was a weakness, it was with post-war American cars. A 1953 Buick Skylark
with an older restoration sold for $96,250, while its GM Motorama stable mate, a
1953 Oldsmobile Fiesta convertible, realized
$104,500. A few years back, these could have
sold for twice what was realized here. In addition,
a 1947 Chrysler New Yorker Town &
Country convertible brought only $93,500.
Prices have been steadily escalating since
T&Cs have been recognized as Full Classics by
the Classic Car Club of America, but this one
was certainly an exception to that trend.
This was RM's 13th auction at the Arizona
Sales Totals
Biltmore, and superstitions can be set aside,
as the results were very favorable indeed. The
sell-through rate was an impressive 90%, and
bidders from 21 countries were represented.
The diverse array of quality collector cars
maintained RM's reputation of offering the
best, and the bidders responded. ♦
$5m
$10m
$15m
$20m
$25m
$30m
$35m
0
Sports Car Market
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
10%, included in sold prices

Page 100

RM Auctions Scottsdale, AZ
ENGLISH
#221-1914 ROLLS-ROYCE 40/50 Silver
Ghost landaulette. S/N 25EB. Cream/black
leather/wood & tan fabric. RHD. Odo: 502 km.
Extensive restoration performed by marque
expert in 2004–05. Inlaid wood interior panels
are original to car. Equipped with CAV electric
lighting and “double Elliott” speedometer.
Chauffeur's area trimmed in tan leather; passenger
area features silk window pulls and
This was last seen at Barrett-Jackson's 2007
Scottsdale sale where it realized $198,000
(SCM# 44157). Considering the provenance, I
would have expected it to sell closer to the
$175k low estimate today. I'm sure the seller
agrees, but the buyer is happy.
#118-1957 JAGUAR XK-SS replica
curtains. Retains original body, chassis and engine.
Was once in Henry Ford Museum in
Dearborn. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $550,000. The
40/50 designation refers to 40 taxable and 50
true horsepower. This was an elegant and
stately Silver Ghost that sold well below the
expected range. With rich history and its inclusion
in the book “The Edwardian Rolls-Royce,”
I certainly thought it would garner more interest.
Well bought.
#236-1933 LAGONDA 3-LITER. S/N
Z10710. Black/black fabric/maroon leather.
RHD. Odo: 3,950 km. An attractive sporting
body with cycle fenders and low-profile windshield
installed when car was restored in early
1980s. Again restored in 2008 and received
numerous awards at major west coast concours.
Paint and trim present as flawless. Superb interior.
Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $198,000. This
between driver and passenger removed. Only
18 actual conversions completed. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $145,750. This sold at the $145k
high estimate, which was likely less than the
original cost. Not destined to appreciate as a
collectible, but as a 6-digit alternative to the
7-digit real thing, price seemed fair.
#268-1962 ASTON MARTIN DB4. S/N
Lagonda is no stranger to the SCM database. It
was most recently sold by Gooding at their
2008 Arizona sale, where it was stated to be
correctly priced at $253,000 (SCM #48759).
Prior to that it was sold twice by Christies, at
their 2002 Pebble Beach sale for $117,500
(SCM #29033), and at their 1991 Pebble Beach
sale for $79,000 (SCM #9209). Looks like the
seller took a haircut this time around, but price
paid here correctly reflects today's market.
#220-1952 ALLARD K2 roadster. S/N
91K3019. Burgundy/black leather. RHD. Odo:
21,817 km. The “special production” K2 built
specifically for display at the 1952 New York
Auto Show. Original Cadillac engine replaced
with Chrysler Hemi when car was restored in
1993. Granted FIA Historic Vehicle Identity
papers in 1994, extensive history as a vintage
racer. Leather interior in as-raced condition.
Minor bruises from racing activities. One of
119 produced. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $118,250.
102
include bored-out engine and added triple twinthroat
carburetors. Window rubbers deteriorating.
Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $357,500. A powerful
road and track rally car. Extensive interest
propelled the biddng far beyond the $250k high
estimate. Price paid seems a bit excessive,
considering the conversions from stock, but it
will continue to be a formidable competitor on
the vintage circuit.
Sports Car Market
DB4754R. Green/red leather. Odo: 23,632 km.
Designed as dual-purpose track and road car,
and active in vintage racing in VSCCA and
SVRA events. Engine replaced in first month of
ownership and again when restored in late
1970s. Converted to LHD, Tremec T5 transmission
added. Further recent modifications
roadster. S/N 7E69649. Silver/red leather.
RHD. Odo: 636 km. A re-creation made by
Tempero Coach and Motor Company in New
Zealand. Based on '66 E-type chassis and
power by a Jaguar XK DOHC inline 6. The
XK-SS was a converted D-type sports racer
with a passenger door fitted and the divider

Page 102

RM Auctions Scottsdale, AZ
#124-1964 ALVIS TE 21 Series III drophead
coupe. S/N 27162. Eng. # 27162. Light
blue/tan fabric/tan leather. Odo: 8,653 km. One
of approximately 350 produced. Converted to
left-hand drive in 1996, along with numerous
mechanical updates, and stated to have been
driven on a regular basis. Bare-metal respray
#136-1958 PORSCHE 356A
1600
Speedster. S/N 84607. Eng. # 68872.
Aquamarine Blue/black fabric/red leather.
Odo: 14 miles. Restored to perfection with a
respray that was stated to have cost $80,000.
Numerous awards, including Best in Show at
2009 Dana Point Porsche Parade. Complete
with original books and papers, tool roll and
Certificate of Authenticity from Porsche.
the intervening years it was driven about 700
miles, and the seller about broke even today,
after fees. Considering the Rudge wheels, this
was well bought.
#287-1956 BMW ISETTA 300 bubble-top
completed last year to highest standard. Body
straight. Very well fitted interior. Dual headlamps
look a bit out of place, in my opinion.
Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $66,000. A well-presented
car that will get everyone excited at the next All
British Field Meet. It had great cosmetics and
seemed mechanically sound. Market-correct or
somewhat well bought.
#285-1968 JAGUAR XKE Series 1½ con-
vertible. S/N 1E16228. Eng. # 7E148599.
Golden Sand/biscuit fabric/tan leather. Odo:
57,717 miles. The very desirable Series 1½
with open headlamps, smaller bumper and 4.2liter
engine. Driven only 100 miles since comprehensive
restoration, which included a bare
ing to cause concern. An attractive example.
Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $35,750. Every auction of
late seems to have one of these. The price realized
depends on condition and body style. The
bubble top is rare, and considering the quality
of restoration, I will call this well bought.
#231-1957 MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL
metal respray and engine rebuild. Striking
Golden Sand livery. About as close to a new
E-type as you can get. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT
$123,750. These have been appreciating of
late—even the SCM Price Guide can't keep up.
Last year this would have been all the money,
but today it looked like a fair price. For an
E-type restored to this level, this was a fair
transaction all around.
GERMAN
#143-1955 MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL
Gullwing coupe. S/N 5500712. Red/brown
leather. Odo: 77,804 miles. Minor road rash on
nose. Fitted with Rudge wheels. Interior,
thought to be original, shows a plesant patina
with mild wear. Driver's door sill worn from
entry and exit. Car has been driven regularly
and is equipped with factory-original luggage.
Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $632,500. This Gullwing
was last seen at RM's 2010 Monterey sale,
where it sold for $550,000 (SCM# 165764). In
104
shows the resulting scars. Complete with
books, records and tools. Rudge knockoff
wheels are reproductions. Cond: 2. SOLD AT
$737,000. A 300SL roadster has yet to break
the seven-figure mark, even though that's about
the new going rate for a Gullwing. I predict
that it won't be long before it happens. At the
price paid, this one looked like a solid investment,
not to mention a fun tour car.
roadster. S/N 7500295. Eng. # 7500347.
Silver/black fabric/red leather. Odo: 43,709
miles. First year for the roadster version of the
300SL, with miles stated to be actual. Body-off
restoration to exacting standard. Has been
driven on several Copperstate 1000 rallies and
original to car. Stunning presentation. Cost
$10,500 when new. Cond: 1. SOLD AT
$990,000. The 1958 507 on offer at Gooding
was in comparable condition and brought a
comparable price of $962,500, making both
transactions look market-correct (SCM#
191589). Both cars were well presented and
represent an attractive alternative to a 300SL
roadster.
ITALIAN
#269-1927 ISOTTA-FRASCHINI TIPO
8A boattail tourer. S/N 839. Eng. # 662. Twotone
lavender/purple canvas/purple leather.
RHD. Odo: 12,041 km. Bold livery thought to
be authentic. Used by Pacific Auto Rentals
prior to 1950, restored in '80s and in Blackhawk
Collection for 20 years. New top and lightningbolt
stone guard fitted in 2007. Chrome
Sports Car Market
coupe. S/N 493880. Grey & blue/tan
vinyl/plaid. Odo: 18,736 miles. The “rolling
egg” often referred to as the savior of BMW.
An excellent restoration with the proper plaid
interior. Eyebrows on headlamps a whimsical
afterthought. Has a few minor issues, but noth-
Interior restitched with factory-correct thread
using original stitch-holes. Stored at the climate-controlled
Petersen Museum in
Hollywood and reportedly exercised every
10–14 days on the parking garage roof. Cond:
1. SOLD AT $335,500. This must be a record
sale for a 356 Speedster, but the quality of the
restoration was unparalleled. Price was up
there, but as we are prone to say, “Go find a
better one.”
TOP 10
No. 9
#128-1959 BMW 507 Series II roadster.
S/N 70203. Eng. # 40190.
Black/green leather. Odo: 53,646 miles.
One of only 253 507s produced. A recent restoration
by RM. Black paint sparkles, brightwork
done to highest standard. Fitted with reproduction
Rudge wheels and proper V8 that is not

Page 104

RM Auctions Scottsdale, AZ
wires, wide whites. A stunning car that is hard
to miss, and a 2009 Amelia Island award-winner.
Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $407,000. This dramatic
boattail tourer was previously offered at
the World Classic Auction in Las Vegas in
1991, where it no-saled at $185,000, against a
reserve of $250,000 (SCM# 12262). Same provocative
livery then as now. I have to think a
more conventional color scheme would find
broader appeal, although this price isn't chump
change. Well bought at the $400k lower estimate.
BEST
BUY
#249-1952 FERRARI 342
AMERICA coupe. S/N 0246AL. Eng.
# 0246AL. Black/green leather. RHD.
Odo: 2,221 km. Restored and maintained to
highest order. Receipts for $100,000 in recent
work, including $1,700 for original taillight
lenses. Shown at Amelia Island in 2007 and
Pebble Beach in 2011. Displayed at 1953
Geneva Motor Show and known history since.
moved; TV producer and renowned Ferrari
enthusiast Greg Garrison (with Enzo Ferrari's
assistance) then had new body constructed by
four retired Scaglietti employees. A striking
design that has been recognized at several
major concours. One of just 37 410
Superamericas built. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT
$1,815,000. A one-off design on an exclusive
410 Superamerica body, complete with fascinating
story. The design may not be to everyone's
taste, but it certainly won't be ignored.
Price paid was most reasonable considering
the documented history and quality presented.
The car sold previously for $1,320,000 at
Gooding's 2007 Pebble Beach auction (SCM#
46557). Well bought and sold today. See the
profile p. 46.
#260-1957 MASERATI 3500 GT coupe.
S/N AM101058. Eng. # AM101058. White/red
leather. Odo: 88,847 km. A one-off factory
prototype used by Maserati, then shown as a
1958 Paris Show car. Has a number of unique
features including mesh front grille, hand-made
chrome deck supports and a 240 km/h speedometer.
Resprayed 20 years back and now
#242-1963 MASERATI 3500 GT Vignale
Spyder. S/N AM1011457. Black/black
fabric/black leather. Odo: 93,216 miles. A late
1963 3500 GT fitted with four-wheel disc
brakes, triple Webers, Borrani wires and electric
windows. Older restoration work holding
up well but no longer crisp. Scratches and
swirls noted on right rear fender and some
touch-ups on hood. Black leather interior
shows expected wear. Engine clean but not
highly detailed. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $297,000.
Elegant, rare and seldom offered for public
sale. A 3500 GT coupe sold the same weekend
at Gooding for $302,500 (SCM# 191522)
which makes this Spyder, at approximately the
same price, look like a bargain.
#280-1971 MASERATI GHIBLI spyder.
S/N AM115S191. Red/black fabric/black
leather. Odo: 28,000 miles. Ordered with every
option except automatic transmission: a/c,
power steering and Borrani wires. Low miles
are from new. Uneven headlamp door gaps and
wear on steering column are the only concerns.
shows minor chips and scratching. Leather interior
very presentable. Complete with original
ownership history. Cond: 2. SOLD AT
$165,000. 3500 GTs continue to catch collectors'
eyes, and values are on the march. With
the documented one-off history of this example,
the price paid was well within reason.
One of only six 342 Americas built and reportedly
one of three by Pininfarina. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $632,500. An exceptional and rare
Ferrari that recently proved itself on the 2011
Colorado Grand. The quality of restoration,
unique egg-crate grille and extended wheelbase
chassis should have created more interest,
but it sold well under the $800k low estimate.
Well bought, indeed.
TOP 10
No. 5
#232-1957 FERRARI 410
SUPERAMERICA
coupe. S/N
0671SA. Eng. # 0671SA. Maroon/
stainless/tan leather. Odo: 487 km. One-of-akind
design by Scaglietti featuring stainless
steel fins, fastback roof, vents and rocker panels.
Car was stolen in 1970s and body was re-
cording to GM stylist Chuck Jordan, per the
catalog. “Lusso” means luxury in Italian, and
the word certainly applies here. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $979,000. 250 Lussos continue to
climb up the value chart, and this would have
been a questionable transaction a few years
back, but today it represents the current market.
A quality offering at a correct price.
106
Sports Car Market
#263-1963 FERRARI 250 GT Lusso
coupe. S/N 4459GT. Eng. # 4459GT. Red/tan
leather. Odo: 70,217 miles. One of 350 Lussos
built. Thorough restoration in late 1990s, complete
with Ferrari Classiche certification and
multiple FCA Platinum awards. Participated in
1964 Targa Florio. A “timeless design,”
ac-
Only 125 spyders built. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT
$297,000. The Ghibli was the first of the V8
Maserati GT cars and could go from 0-60 in
6.8 seconds with a top speed of 154 mph. spyders
have sold in the $320k range in the past
few years (SCM# 116783, 48106), so this example,
falling short of that mark by $23k, has
to be called well bought. Performance, rarity
and low mileage make a strong package.
#218-1973 FERRARI 246 GTS Dino spy-
der. S/N 04404. Red/tan black leather. Odo:
66,010 miles. Miles stated to be original with

Page 106

RM Auctions Scottsdale, AZ
recent rebuild and respray. Fitted with
“Daytona” seats. Complete with records and
jack bag. Intended for the U.S. market, about
1200 were imported between 1972 and 1974.
Cond: 2. SOLD AT $203,500. Price paid was
smack in the middle of the pre-sale $175k–
$225k range and looked very fair. With the recent
engine work and respray, and no evidence
of neglect, the new owner should be good to go.
TOP 10
No. 10
#267-1973 FERRARI 365 GTS/4
Daytona spyder. S/N 16705. Eng. #
16705. Red/tan leather. Odo: 38,749
miles. An original left-hand drive, U.S.-spec
car, reportedly the 84th of 121 Daytona spyders
built by Ferrari. Color has been changed from
Verde Pino (pine green) with black inserts
added to tan leather seats. Mousehair on dash
in good condition. Complete with books, pa-
leather. RHD. Odo: 51,168 miles. Precious
metal customization work started in late 1940s,
finished in 1974. Aluminum body wrapped in
23-karat gold, chassis and engine plated with
Annual Meeting and Best in Class at 2011
Amelia Island Concours. Stored in barn for
many years with history known from new. A
sensational rare full classic. Cond: 2+. NOT
SOLD AT $450,000. High bid was low but
within striking distance, and I was surprised
that no deal was worked out. But the seller's
decision to hold on is understandable if he's in
no hurry to sell.
gold or nickel, interior fittings silver-plated.
Dash instruments rusty. Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD
AT $150,000. An automotive oddity that will
quickly lose its appeal. Difficult to value, in one
sense, weighing the gold and silver against
the period-incorrect deviation from stock. In
other sense, not difficult at all. High bid should
have been plenty.
#279-1930 CORD L-29 convertible. S/N
pers and tools. Has been in same ownership for
past 23 years. Only minor paint issues noted.
Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $990,000. Many coupes
have been “cut” into imitation spyders, but
they are not difficult to detect and do not approach
the value of the real ones. Correct
Daytona spyders don't stray far from the price
paid here. A fair transaction within the $900k–
$110k auction house estimate, and all is square
with the world.
AMERICAN
#234-1903 WAVERLEY 20A electric sur-
rey. S/N 1167. Black/black leather. An older
restoration that is complete except for 40-cell,
80-volt battery arrangement. The Waverley
Electric was marketed at female operators, as
indicated by an advertisement that read, “No
built in America. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT
$184,250. Cord L-29s have a great look, but
they are not known for the quality of their ride,
so they don't make wonderful tour cars. This
was a very presentable example, and it sold for
what has to be called a fair price in today's
market. A few years back, some were saying the
Full Classic market was dying, but sales like
this just keep coming. Well bought and sold.
#248-1931 MARMON SIXTEEN convertible
sedan. S/N 16144722. Light teal/taupe
cloth/teal leather. Odo: 5,184 miles. Thought to
be one of eight Marmon Sixteen convertible
sedans still in existence. Restoration completed
in 2000 and awarded 100 points at CCCA
complications. Turn on the power and steer.”
From the O'Quinn Estate. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT
$110,000. This got all kinds of attention, and it
quickly went well past the $80k high estimate.
An interesting piece of automotive history, and
with electric cars now fully in vogue, it proves
things always go full-circle.
#274-1920 PIERCE-ARROW MODEL
48 coupe. S/N 515435. Gold-plated/black
108
FDA3837. Light gray/tan fabric/burgundy
leather. Odo: 2,254 miles. Extensive freshening
in 2006 at a reported cost of $30,000. A glass
Lalique “Tete D' Aigle” hood ornament, recently
produced, adorns the hood. Limitedproduction
car with a low-slung frame, due to
front-wheel drive. The L-29 was one of the first
full production front wheel-drive automobiles
#219-1931 PACKARD MODEL 833 dual
cowl sport phaeton. S/N 145737. Tan &
brown/tan canvas/brown leather. Odo: 29,949
miles. Known as “The Birthday Packard,” as it
was given as a 17th birthday gift to Jonas
Edwards, who owned it 42 years. Still retains
original interior and exterior finish. Took third
in 2009 Pebble Beach Pre-War Preservation
class and F.I.V.A. trophy. Miles are documented
and original. Complete with original trunk with
fitted luggage. A wonderful unmolested
Packard. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $110,000. With
the current interest in unrestored original cars,
I was surprised this did not sell for more. It was
in delightfully well maintained condition. At
the price paid, this was well bought, and I hope
the buyer cares for it with the same pride shown
by the previous owners.
#246-1932 AUBURN V-12 speedster. S/N
1973E. Black/black fabric/red leather. Odo: 21
miles. A stunning restoration with a few very
minor issues such as small chip on radiator
badge. More than $400,000 claimed spent on
restoration, and it shows. Car earned Best in
Show at ACD National Meet. The Auburn V-12
produces 160 horsepower, exceeding what
Packard or Lincoln offered, and the Columbia
two-speed rear axle provided six forward gears.
Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $429,000. Clones abound,
but the real thing stands out and attracts a
crowd. The buyer moved to the head of the
class with this magnificent V-12 speedster.
Price paid exceeded the $400k high estimate
but was not out of line.
Sports Car Market

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RM Auctions Scottsdale, AZ
#253-1932 LINCOLN MODEL K KB
doublewindshield phaeton. S/N KB1367.
Belmont Brown/tan canvas/brown leather &
tan canvas. Odo: 132 miles. A 1932 Lincoln
show car built by Brunn. Original body has
been lost but was reconstructed by Fran Roxas.
Design is unusual in that the dual windshields
are steeply raked. Recognized with awards at
2-. SOLD AT $180,000. Many feel that the
1934 is the epitome of Packard styling, with the
front fenders that almost reach the bumper.
Price paid here was most reasonable for a
Twelve that can be driven on the most arduous
of tours and still do well on the show field.
the 2003 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
and maintained to high-point standard since. A
unique one-off design. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT
$269,500. Lincolns tend to lag behind Packards
in value, but this KB sold for money comparable
with a similar Packard. I would tend to
think the unique sporting design made the difference.
No problem with this price on either
side of this transaction.
#215-1934 DESOTO AIRFLOW coupe.
S/N 6078798. Silver/brown fabric. Odo: 15,068
miles. A design that was well ahead of its time
and was not accepted in its era. This example
restored to perfection and one of only a handful
of coupes known to exist. Complete with wonderful
Art Deco dash and “waterfall grille.”
Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $52,250. A tough sell in
used by Cord. Equipped with folding top that
disappears under rear deck panel, pre-select
transmission and Cord fog lights. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $385,000. These continue to be the
most desirable of Cords produced. The limited
production, clean lines and supercharger keep
them in high demand. This example was well
presented, and if you could live with the rather
bold livery, price was fair.
the era, and an acquired taste today. The 8-cylinder
Chrysler Airflows routinely sell at this
price or above, but I could find record of only
two other DeSoto Airflows near this money.
The restoration must have been a labor of love
for the seller, as the car was perfect, and he
must have had much, much more into it—so I'll
call it well bought. New owner will knock them
dead at the next Airflow Owners Club gathering.
#257-1934 PACKARD 1107 convertible
sedan. S/N 110774313. Eng. # 902163.
Maroon & red/black fabric/red leather. Odo:
67,840 miles. Ownership history known since
delivery to Vail Brothers Packard dealership on
Long Island. Outfitted for touring with radial
blackwalls, seat belts and high-speed rear axle.
Shows evidence of road rash that has been
properly touched up. An elegant Packard that
will continue to be a delightful tour car. Cond:
110
shows evidence of age and use. Gauges oxidizing
and worn. Top aging, bumpers scratched.
Your basic needs-everything restoration. Cond:
3. NOT SOLD AT $150,000. This pretty car
showed signs of much deferred maintenance
that will need to be addressed promptly.
Factoring that in, the price bid looked correct,
near the $160k low estimate. It was close, and
I'm surprised no deal could be put together.
Sports Car Market
#264-1937 PACKARD TWELVE
Convertible Victoria. S/N 906595. Eng. #
906595. Primrose Yellow/tan canvas/tan
leather. Odo: 46,592 miles. A delightfully
styled Senior Packard with independent front
suspension. Older restoration work now unwinding
all around. Interior leather seating
#126-1937 CORD 812 SC Sportsman
convertible. S/N 32405. Eng. # FC3144.
Yellow/tan fabric/red leather. Odo: 444 miles.
A 20-year-old 7,000-hour restoration that has
been maintained well enough to be presented at
the 2010 Pebble Beach Concours. One of only
64 original supercharged Sportsman 812s produced,
although the designation was never
#239-1941 PACKARD 180 DARRIN
Convertible Victoria. S/N 14292013. Eng. #
CD502436C. Red/tan fabric/tan leather. Odo:
929 miles. Carries an older restoration and a
lacquer finish. Bumper not straight in front and
several paint blisters noted. Whitewalls yellowing.
Top appears to be newer. Designed by
Dutch Darrin, but production brought in-house
by Packard in 1941. It is thought that 35 were
built on the Super Eight chassis in 1941 and
another 15 in 1942. A lovely design. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $225,500. A wonderful-riding
Packard with distinctive Darrin styling. Price
paid was reasonable for a desirable car looking
a bit past its prime. A respray is in the cards
in the not-too-distant future, and that should
cure most the ills.
#206-1947 CHRYSLER NEW YORKER
Town & Country convertible. S/N 7403939.
Blue/blue leather & tan fabric. miles. 323.5-ci
I8, 1-bbl, 4-sp. Older restoration with wood
recently refinished by noted expert. Equipped
with Prestomatic Fluid Drive transmission and
clock. Interior very presentable. Engine compartment
looks proper with no fluid leaks. A
very striking example of an 8-cylinder Town &
Country. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $93,500. Prices
for T&Cs are off their high of a few years back,
but they have not lost their desirability. They
are now considered CCCA Full Classics, and
with the activities available, values should appreciate.
Buyer came out ahead on this one.
#237-1953 BUICK SKYLARK convert-
ible. S/N V1863937. Green/white fabric/green
& white leather. Odo: 89,048 miles. 322-ci V8,
4-bbl, auto. An older restoration of a desirable
Motorama model. Only 1,690 produced in

Russo and Steele Scottsdale, AZ
Sports and Muscle in the Desert
Once the dust settled, more than 400 cars found new homes, up from
last year's 379 sold
Company
Russo and Steele
Date
January 18–22, 2012
Location
Scottsdale, AZ
Auctioneers
Brian Marshall, Jeff Stokes
and Frank Bizzarro
Automotive lots sold/offered
414/655
Sales rate
63%
Sales total
$19,273,145
High sale
1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88
convertible, sold at $687,500
Buyer's premium
10%, included in sold prices
1937 Mercedes-Benz 230A convertible — sold at $159,500
Introduction by Sam Stockham. Report and
photos by Stockham and Robert Malke
Market opinions in italics
M
114
ost cars at Russo's auctions trade hands south
of six digits, but this year, a handful of cars
managed to bring north of $400,000, including
a Ferrari 330 GTC done in a beautiful
Sera Metallic Blue, which set a record at $429,000. In addition,
a 1965 “R code” Shelby Mustang said to have been
used by the Carroll Shelby School of High Performance
Driving found a new owner at $467,500.
Sharing this price tag was a 1953 Corvette owned by
Corvette historian and guru Noland Adams. The U.S.
Postal Service commissioned Adams to make sure the
design work of the stamp to commemorate the Corvette
was correct. This car was used in the design approval
by Adams, who used his own car to make sure that the
drawing dimensions were accurate and colors were correct.
Top sales price this year was achieved by a 1968 L88
Corvette, which fetched a whopping $687,500. And why
shouldn't it? It was a very nice car in subtle silver and was
highly detailed, but not over-the-top restored. The car had
a refreshing approachability and had everything buyers clamor for — raw power, good
looks and exclusivity. Sure, the price was expensive, but the car will certainly turn heads
at any Corvette event.
Notable sales at this year's auction included a 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 at
$253,000, a 1966 Ford Mustang fastback at $137,500, a 1954 Jaguar XK 120 SE roadster
at $66,000, a 1937 Mercedes-Benz 230A cabriolet at $159,500, a 1971 Oldsmobile 442
W-30 at $132,000, and a 1963 Porsche 356B
cabriolet at $121,000.
There were over 650 consignments on
Sales Totals
site this year, ranging from blue-chip exotics
through muscle, classics and street rods, and all
budgets were well represented. Total sales this
year rang in at $19,273,145, which was down almost
a million dollars from last year, but the sold
percentage of 63% is the highest since the glory
days of 2007. Once the dust settled, more than
400 cars found new homes, up from last year's
379 sold. All in all, I'm sure that Drew Alcazar,
owner of Russo and Steele, is pleased with the
response he got from his home town. ♦
$5m
$10m
$15m
$20m
$25m
0
Sports Car Market
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
No Data

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Russo and Steele Scottsdale, AZ
ENGLISH
#S755-1953 NASH-HEALEY LE MANS
coupe. S/N 3002. Red/tan leather. Odo: 58,464
miles. One of approximately 506 Nash-Healeys
built between 1951 and 1954. Paint and body
decent but lacks detail, probably done years
ago. Brightwork a mixed bag: some good
chrome, some not, same with the stainless.
Sloppy door jambs. Interior very sporty and
leather seat round out the interior. Wears Auster
low-profile windscreen, metal tonneau, vented
hood, bullet mirrors. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT
$18,700. This car was highly detailed and had
seen occasional track use. Just the build alone
looked expensive. Another car for the overseas
buyers. A real bargain.
BEST
BUY
cozy. Dash and instrument cluster conveniently
laid out. Leather seats are comfortable with
average wear. Has world's tiniest floor shifter.
Cond: 3. SOLD AT $38,500. Last sold for
$27,560 at Kruse Auctions in Auburn, 2002
(SCM# 28204). 120 miles added since. First
year for the coupe and a very good example.
The 1952–53 roadsters are in considerably
more demand, but this iconic car still had potential.
Well bought.
#S767-1957 JAGUAR XK 140 roadster.
S/N 5812864. Silver/black cloth/burgundy
leather. Odo: 703,052 miles. Nice classy color
combo, glossy paint, but amateur Bondo visible
upon close inspection. Weak chrome and trim.
Cloth top edgy. Interior nicely aged (and the
Minilite-style Minator wheels and thick rubber.
Race-style cockpit, gauges, seats, belts, halon,
Tilton pedals, and roll cage all neatly covered
by a fibergalss hard top. The hot rod-style peep
mirrors would not be my first choice. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $17,050. This was a fresh build and
looked like a serious piece with very little time
on it. Totally
race-prepared, but looked
streetable. It would look even better hugging
the ground and could stand to be lowered a
couple of inches. A super deal for the buyer.
best part of the car). Cond: 3-. NOT SOLD AT
$36,000. Definitely a driver. Final year for the
XK 140, and it looked good under the lights. It
had sort of a classic Hollywood look with the
chrome
wires
and
the
#S642-1957 MGA
wide
whitewalls.
Considering the amount of body filler, quite a
lot paid.
roadster. S/N
HDR4321411. Burgandy/black metal
tonneau/red leather. Odo: 32,738 miles. A tribute
version of the 1955 Le Mans competition
car. Fresh race-prepared long-block, with cast
rocker cover, Webers and headers, plus exhaust,
tricked-out suspension and chrome
wires. Excellent paint and body, well detailed.
Bumpers deleted, single Lucas fog light fitted.
Derrington-style wood steering wheel and red
116
#S632-1961 AUSTIN-HEALEY 3000
roadster. S/N HBT7L3104. Healey Blue/blue
cloth/blue leather. Odo: 2 miles. Almost a
concours restoration. Nearly perfect finish with
minor prep issues in clear-coated paint. Fresh
chrome and trim. Interior new and correctlooking
with all gauges reconditioned, latches
#S636-1959 AUSTIN-HEALEY
BUGEYE SPRITE roadster. S/N
AN516997. Red/red fiberglass hard
top/black cloth. miles. Wicked little raceprepped
Bugeye. Realllu nice paintwork on a
straght body. Fiberglass flip-nose front clip.
Built 1,275-cc motor with a supercharger, head,
cam, intake, carb, header and dressup kit linked
to a 5-speed. Tricked-out suspension, heavy
springs, bars and shocks. Shod with 13-inch
chromed, new door jamb trim and sill-plates.
Retains factory steering wheel. Underhood is
spotless, with powdercoated intake manifold,
polished carb tops, plus chrome latches, striker
and hood prop. Sanitary undercarriage. Has the
typical resto stance, sitting too high in the front.
Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $49,500. With only two
miles showing on the odo, this car was straight
off the trailer. Good money spent on a car that
inspired confidence. Well bought, right at market
or just under.
#SN851-1965 LOTUS ELAN roadster.
S/N CHNS264151. Silver/black leather. Odo:
22,757 miles. Rare original example. Faded
repaint, stock steel wheels, pee-shooter tips and
a solid frame. Faded, dried leather seats, nice
original wood wheel and horn button, checking
on the wood dash, AM/FM cassette added.
Engine runs good on Weber carbs, shows a little
blue smoke at first. Cond: 3-. NOT SOLD AT
$18,000. Lotus Elans first appeared in 1962 as
the Series I. They are a simple, crude liitle cars
with tremendous race heritage and are soughtafter
today—especially with U.K. buyers. They
can sell between $15k and $30k, depending on
condition. There were dealers all over this rare
example, but the seller had higher expectations.
He may do slightly better elsewhere, but
the associated costs of auctioning it again will
likely negate any difference.
#S650-1969 JAGUAR XKE convertible.
S/N J691R7848. Black/black cloth/black
leather. Odo: 71,803 miles. Second year of the
Series II E-type. Professionally restored, still
has a good finish. Nice detail in the jambs, engine
bay, undercarriage and front frame rails.
Chrome and trim nice and shiny. Cockpit fresh,
tidy and looks complete with the guages, toggle
switches, Becker AM/FM radio and a beauti-
fully restored factory wood steering wheel.
Equipped with rare optional removable hard
top, painted black to match the car. Purrs like a
little kitty. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $70,400. Very
nice car, although not the best color for an
Sports Car Market

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Russo and Steele Scottsdale, AZ
E-type in my opinion. But its striking looks and
good options brought strong money. Well sold.
The most expensive Jag at Russo this week.
#SN873-1971 AUSTIN MINI Cooper
1275 GT 2-dr sedan. S/N MA2S4S296970.
Garnet Red/tan leather. Odo: 3,242 miles. A
real 1971 Mini 1275 GT. Based on the Clubman
with the redesigned snout. This one was customized
by Wood & Pickett, a U.K. shop
known for building high-end Minis for discriminating
buyers (The Beatles, for example).
Interior has Recaro leather seats, full
August, where it no-saled at an undisclosed top
bid (SCM# 183967). I can only ponder on what
it must have been like to roar through the Black
Forest countryside in this car with the top down
some 75 years ago. The bidder got a super buy,
at one-tenth the cost of the big-brother 540K.
#SN870-1957 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
2-dr sedan. S/N 1445285. Black/tan vinyl.
Odo: 808,777 miles. Classic oval-window bug.
Good-looking “Vee-Wee” is finished in black
over what appears to be a solid body. Not a sophisticated
or fancy car. Interior, although
sparse, has a period-correct Motorola radio.
instrumentation, wood veneer dash, Mota-Lita
steering wheel, plush furry carpeting, cloth
headliner, power windows and sliding steel
sunroof. Fender flares over real 10-inch
Minilites. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $13,500.
The 1275 GT is rarely seen in the U.S., much
less in left-hand drive. This example had a
good, straight, solid body, but it lacked detail,
and the original gold color was showing
through. It garnered a lot of interest from foreign
prospects. Hard to put a value on this
roller skate, but high bid sure seemed light.
GERMAN
#S704-1937 MERCEDES-BENZ 230A
convertible. S/N 256814. Beige &
burgandy/black cloth/burgandy leather. Classic
European color combination. Older restoration
with just the right amount of patina. Some
minor sporadic checking in paint on body and
wheels. Chrome decent with some minor glazing
on bumpers and hubcaps. Low-profile roof
line and suidide door give a sporty look. With
fitted luggage and double trunk-mounted spare
tires. Interior outstanding. A well preserved and
used car. Excellent example of a not over-re-
Tan vinyl seats with brown piping are a nice,
classy touch. Slightly melted sunvisors detract,
but are perhaps original. Car runs good and sits
on a set of repro Coker classic whitewalls
mounted on the stock rims. Cond: 3. SOLD AT
$20,900. Government-issue black is not a particularly
popular Bug color, but this looked
very presentable. Nice old Beetles always attract
a crowd, and this one was no exception. A
little high, but a good car.
#F511-1963 PORSCHE 356B Cabriolet.
S/N 157127. Black/black cloth/tan leather.
Odo: 88,725 miles. Beautiful T6B cab in black.
Nice straight body with all original sheet metal.
Represented as an older restoration with minor
reconditioning over the years. Originally had a
green interior, now tan. Wear on the seats
shows evidence of infrequent use. Relatively
stored, period-correct, prewar aristocratic
German classic. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $159,500.
Last seen at Russo's 2011 Monterey sale in
April 2012
stock car with no notable options (like deluxe
horn ring, Hella 128s, rear sway bar or Super
90 engine). Leitz rack on the back is actually a
rechromed, slightly bent Reutter for a twingrille.
Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $121,000. Bidding
opened around $50k and quickly shot up from
there. It slowed down at $90k and finally
stopped at $110k. Strong money for a 356B
cab. Price looked more like what you'd expect
to pay for a nice 356SC or an average roadster.
117

Page 116

Russo and Steele Scottsdale, AZ
#SN879-1965 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
2-dr sedan. S/N 1145285. Bahama Blue/cream
vinyl. Odo: 7,457 miles. Classic Beetle with a
stock factory brochure look, but festooned with
accessory Euro fluted headlight lenses, roof
and rear deck racks, an aluminum front sunvisor,
curb scrapers, door handle guards, front
and rear fender gravel shields and extended
#SN814-1974 VOLKSWAGEN THING
convertible. S/N 1833022883E. Metallic
Yellow/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 71,661
miles. Decent metallic yellow finish has only a
few bad buff marks on the hood. Sporting repro
BRM aluminum 15-inch 5-spoke rims and new
tires. Absent of any chrome, just painted black
tube bumpers and a four-tip aftermarket muf-
and body, great stature. Nice to see a Ferrari
that is not red, black or white. Meticulous inte-
pee-shooter exhaust tips. Older recondition job,
common colors inside and out, and good overall
condition. Interior fitted with dealer-accessory
front basket-style package tray and AM/
FM radio. Fake wide whitewall overlays on
normal tires. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $8,000.
Bugs have sort of a cult following; they are fun
econo-cars that just seem to hold their value.
Many sell in the $12k–$15k range, but this
price looked about right. It was probably a
solid car, and the bidders seemed to think so,
but the seller wanted more.
#SN836-1966 VOLKSWAGEN TRANS-
PORTER Type 2 microbus. S/N 236128736.
Orange & white/plaid vinyl. Odo: 92,094
miles. A used, not abused split-windshield bus.
Average two-tone paint job with an extra shot
of orange peel, even on the bumpers. Roof
rack, jalousie windows. Interior in vintage
plaid, but in decent shape. No fridge or sink,
but has adjustable table. Cargo area and trim
fler system. Interior looks pretty weatherproof
with its black textured coating on the floorboards
and vinyl seats and top. Cond: 3-. NOT
SOLD AT $10,450. The Type 181 Thing was
produced between 1969 and 1983 in both military-spec
and civilian versions. The prices
range between $4,500 for a driver to $20,000
for a nicely restored one. This example would
need a lot more detailing to command big
money.
#S778-1977 PORSCHE 911 coupe. S/N
9117202734. Yellow/black cloth. Odo: 100,453
miles. A re-creation of the 1977 911 IROC RSR
raced by George Follmer, actively used on the
vintage racing circuit. Nicely prepared, and
from the outside looks accurate, short of subtle
modern-day improvements. Sits on correct
9-inch and 11x15-inch Fuchs-style wheels, al-
rior, tool kit spread out and displayed over rear
package tray and looks complete. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $429,000. Given that this car has be
driven nearly 100k miles and then restored to
look this good was an indication of its pre-restoration
condition. Serious bidder action, and
strong money paid, or perhaps just bought a
little early.
#F487-1972 ALFA ROMEO GTV 2000
coupe. S/N 3020722. Dutch Blue/black cloth.
Odo: 487 miles. Stunning street- and race-prepared
Alfa. Fresh paint and body, immaculate
and straight. Aggressive stance, factory aluminum
wheels and fat tires. Cobra racing seats,
full roll bar and safety equipment. Undercarriage
tidy and detailed. Under the hood is a
modified 2-liter twin-cam 4-cylinder power-
nicked up. Some damage to rear interior wood
paneling. Runs fine, engine compartment
grimy, aftermarket carb and air cleaner added.
Surface rust and road grime on undercarriage.
Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $15,400. It may be a halfcentury-old
bus, but it's still in good enough
shape to get out to Haight and Asbury. The big
prices for these have been unpredictable and
all over the board, but this modest sale looked
totally right.
118
though polished, and wears all the period
graphics. (It is even autographed by Follmer.)
Engine is a flat-6 with reliable Webers and
modified 915 gearbox. Undercarriage shows
battle scars, road rash and jack marks. Still
clean for a racer. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $62,700.
This was a well maintained, sorted and competitive
vintage race car. With its recent race
history on the West Coast, it would likely do
just fine in any East Coast SVRA events. Fair
price.
ITALIAN
#S735-1967 FERRARI 330 GTC coupe.
S/N 2098843. Blue Sera Metallic/tan & black
leather. Odo: 93,551 miles. Absolutely flawless
car. Looks Pebble Beach-ready. Stunning paint
Sports Car Market
house. With Webers, headers and tuned exhaust,
she absolutely rumbles. Add the
tricked-out suspension, and this car is ready to
challenge the corkscrew at Laguna Seca. Cond:
2-. SOLD AT $45,100. This race-bred Alfa
perked up the crowd as it rolled onto the stage.
It was the only Alfa here, and it drew a lot of
attention. Money paid could have been a breakeven
for the seller, looked strong on the buyer's
end. Price aside, he got a great car that I'd love
to take on the track.
#S728-1972 FERRARI 246 GTS DINO
Spyder. S/N 03908. Red/black leather. Odo:
86,316 km. Looks like a Fiat Dino Spyder and
shares some of the driveline. Not a spectacular

Page 118

Russo and Steele Scottsdale, AZ
car, although would be fun to drive. Body is
wavy, nicks here and there, cut-rate paint job,
including the targa top which is supposed to be
black. Brightwork average, some scratches,
anodizing shot and/or rattle-canned in places.
Interior trim average, leather seats a little dried
out. Aftermarket steering wheel and radio. Just
poor union-quality fit all over. Mildly used,
abused and reused. Cond: 3. SOLD AT
$200,200. Not the best example, but she did
look good rolling across the block. More effort
should have been put into this baby Enzo,
which had clearly been treated like a cheap
850 Fiat. Sale price would be a deal for a nice
one. For this one, well sold.
#TH364-1978 FIAT 124 spider. S/N
124CS10131068. Maroon/black vinyl/tan
vinyl. Odo: 89,427 miles. Fully restored to a
very high standard. Deep maroon paint shows
nearly flawless. Chrome peeling from driver's
taillight housing. Panel fit is nice, and doors
close easily. Rubber on the Ralph Nader-ized
bumpers is perfect. Interior well done. All
gauges intact, and only clock shows slight
haziness to the lens. Pedals show wear consistent
with mileage, and new seat covers show
Odo: 30,400 miles. Very nice ten-year-old restoration
and recent reconditioning, with consistent
condition from top to bottom. Clearly a
maintained occasional driver. Good paint,
shiny parts, good detail. Very neutral color
combination. Interior is in great shape, beautiful
dash arrangement. Underhood detailing
equally as good, with minimal road dust. The
owner took pride in his treasure. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $81,400. Great drop-top looks,
high-end marque, impressive stance. The years
1936-37 had some of the best-looking prewar
classics, if you ask me. This car had it all and
aroused the bidders. Well bought, considering
the recent upkeep.
#F459-1937 CORD 812 BEVERLY
sedan. S/N 20755. Beige/burgandy velour.
Odo: 36,784 miles. Decent older restoration.
Not a lot of detail, but probably correct and
complete. Most impressive is the dash and
gauge detail and layout. Very Art-Deco.
Convenient location for shifter on the steering
stalk and the manual-operation headlights.
Exterior has some chips and nicks from obvious
use, yet maintained. Shiny and complete
brightwork. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $53,000.
only slight use on piping. Engine bay showroom-fresh
and nicely detailed, with yellow
cam belt cover and cooling fan unstained.
Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $25,300. Hard to fault this
car and the restoration job that was done.
Could be almost over-restored, as Fiats didn't
instill this much confidence when they sat on
the original showroom floor. Finding rust-free
examples is difficult these days, and restoring
one to such a standard is cost-prohibitive.
Double the top money bid here, but a very nice
car and hard to reproduce for the money. If you
had to have one, this was the one. Well bought
and sold.
AMERICAN
#S681-1936 AUBURN 852 convertible.
S/N GG5715. Beige/tan cloth/brown leather.
Comfortable and quiet inside. I sat in there
while I was writing my report. It was a time
machine. Good old Yankee ingenuity, and a
timeless car. Decent buy.
#S674-1966 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE
SS 396 convertible. S/N 138676b129475.
Red/white vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 66,199 miles.
396-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Power steering, brakes,
top, windows. Good, not great, repaint. Driver's
door out at bottom rear and in at top front.
Interior appears to have had pieces redone
some time ago but is not fresh. Knee-knocker
tach. Gauge plastic is foggy, and all dash appears
to be original. Faded carpet pulling away
from kick panels. Diamondback redlines on
and 4-link suspension in rear for better handling.
Full leather interior, racing buckets, fulllength
console, Autometer gauges. 454 stroker
small block, Tremec 6-speed, Detroit locker
with steep gears. Autographed by Jack Roush.
Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $161,000. This had been
owned by the famous Detroit Tigers baseball
pitcher Jack Morris. Over $450,000 reportedly
invested in this one-off car. The auctioneer
worked the crowd really hard, but it made just
over half its $300k reserve. Somebody stole this
one by about 250,000 big ones.
#F486-1969 FORD MUSTANG MACH 1
fastback. S/N 9F02R156772. Indian
Fire/black/vinyl. Odo: 47,888 miles. 428-ci
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. A True Mach 1, sharp and recently
restored, with very good detail. Rare
Indian Fire paint color usually only seen on
Lincoln and Mercury cars. Stunning paint
finsh, excellent brightwork. New interior with
good fit and finish. Equipped with tach and
guage package, tilt kick-away column, factory
options and a good color combo, but the details
could be better executed. It earned mid-level
money for a mid-level car, but some weekend
elbow grease and some documentation to
eliminate the uncertainties could raise the
value a little. Fair price on a car that will always
be desirable.
#TH331-1969 FORD MUSTANG fast-
back. S/N 9F02F103183. Silver/black leather.
miles. 454-ci V8, 4-bbl, 6-sp. SEMA-quality
car, no expense spared. Total custom-prepared
Mustang. Bodywork excellent, laser straight.
Deleted the rocker pinch welds, molded quarter
extensions, recessed rear chrome bumper and
exhaust, no side moldings. Great stance on 18inch
and 19-inch wheels. Tube chassis up front
steel wheels are OK. Engine bay dingy. Not
particularly rare, but a nice cruiser. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $41,800. Vaguely suggested to be
numbers-matching. This car had all of the right
120
AM/FM, fold-down rear deck, power steering,
power disc brakes and limited slip rear. Short
of the aftermarket spoiler, this looked like a
really honest trophy-winner. Cond: 2-. NOT
SOLD AT $63,800. A lot of hoopla over this
darling. It looked great under the lights, absolutely
on fire. Again, the auctioneer and his
Sports Car Market

McCormick Palm Springs, CA
The Palm Springs Collector Car Auction
Fun oddities aside, McCormick's mainstay is driver-quality cars, with an
average selling price a touch over $16,000 per car
Company
McCormick's
Date
November 18–20, 2011
Location
Palm Springs, CA
Auctioneers
Frank Bizarro, Jeff Stokes,
Rob Ross
Automotive lots sold/offered
356/547
Sales rate
65%
Sales total
$5,890,353
High sale
2007 Bentley Continental GTC
convertible: sold at $121,800
Buyer's premium
1960 Chevrolet Corvette convertible, 327/350 — sold at $56,175
Report and photos by Carl Bomstead
Market opinions in italics
A
fter 25 years and 50 successful exoticcar
auctions in the Palm Springs desert,
Keith McCormick's family and
crew opened a new chapter with their
most successful event to date. The final results
were about $140,000 ahead of their record-setting
February 2011 auction, with 549 vehicles crossing
the block. The company has perfected their offerings
and is known for throwing in a few quirky automotive
oddities just to make it interesting. However, for the
most part, their mainstay is driver-quality cars, and if
you exclude the 2006 Bentley that sold for $121,800, the
average selling price was a touch over $16,000 per car.
Corvettes continue to be a staple, with 32 being of-
fered and half finding new homes. At one end, you could
have gone home with a 1980 coupe for only $4,725, but
that would have not been the last check written, as many
more will be required to keep it running and bring it up
a notch or two.
This event's most bizarre offering was a black '59
Corvette Fuelie called “Excessive,” and that it was.
Covered from bumper to bumper in 24k gold, it stalled
at $59,000. The coves and top were even painted with
gold flake paint, and if any other part could be covered
with gold, it was. The owner stated a desired price of
six figures and I'd bet he was under the bus at that.
Now with the car well past its prime, with the fiberglass
cracking and some of the plating deteriorating, that offer
124
may just look pretty darn good in the coming months. With gold at record prices, I
could not help but wonder if it might be worth more melted down.
A 1950 Chrysler Town & Country coupe was a no-sale at $26,000. It's a car
Palm Springs, CA
that I'm very familiar with, as I watched it sell at RM's Ft. Lauderdale sale in
2008 for $49,000. At the time, I called it a number 2 with a few minor needs,
but nothing glaring. It was offered at McCormick's February 2010 sale,
and it was like seeing the high school homecoming queen, 10 years
and 100 pounds later. Mother Nature had her way with this T&C, as
the wood was separating and rotting in places and the finish had
lost its luster. A year and a half later, it was now rated a number 4,
and nothing has been done to help it. It's just an example of how a
car can go down the financial slippery slope if
left to deteriorate.
A very respectable 1965 Buick Riviera real-
ized $22,575. I continue to wonder when these
will start their trek up the appreciation curve.
With wonderful styling, tons of performance
and a look of their own with clamshell headlights,
they should offer significant investment
potential. That potential has yet to be realized,
as for the most part, they tend to stall at close to
what this example realized.
Congratulations to McCormick for their
first 25 years of successful and entertaining
auctions. They have the right mix of both
high-level cars and interesting drivers, and that
makes their auctions a great place for buyers
and sellers at all price points. ♦
$2m
$4m
$6m
$8m
0
Sports Car Market
Sales Totals
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
5%, included in sold prices

Page 124

McCormick Palm Springs, CA
CANADIAN
#490-1975 BRICKLIN SV1 coupe. S/N
0041BX5S002745. White/tan vinyl. Odo:
35,804 miles. Minor expected paint issues.
Stated to have won numerous awards. With
standard power-operated gullwing doors,
which caused a problem when they failed. Only
2,854 built before Bricklin closed its doors
leaving the New Brunswick government $23m
2,748 miles. Painted in bumble bee yellow and
black, which would have any self-respecting
Brit rolling his eyes. Paint chipped and
scratched. Trim not in best of condition.
Whitewalls filthy. Interior OK. Cond: 3. SOLD
AT $8,925. Get past the livery, and this was a
cute little pickup. Or make your first stop the
quickie respray shop for something more civilized.
Price paid was certainly cheap enough,
so the new owner can afford to make this look a
little better.
ITALIAN
#191-1966 ALFA ROMEO 2600 spider.
S/N AR193115. Red/black vinyl/black vinyl.
Odo: 91,101 miles. Attractive red paint that
may be irresistible to cops. A few scratches and
swirls noted on trim. Minor wear to interior.
Engine clean with no seepage noted. Equipped
with disc brakes front and rear. One of just
in the hole. SV1 stood for “Safety Vehicle
One.” Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $12,338. These
cars are more interesting for their looks than
their performance, as indicated by their D rating
in the SCM Price Guide. But still, this
looked like a good, properly maintained example,
and the price paid was fair market-correct.
ENGLISH
#277-1951 JAGUAR MK V drophead
coupe. S/N 647349. Gray/black fabric/blue
leather. Odo: 40,352 miles. Very presentable
restoration with excellent paint and brightwork.
Elegant wood dash. Leather buckets in good
order. Wearing spats. Whitewalls don't complement
the car's look. Over the three-year pro-
2,255 2600 Spiders produced between 1962
and 1968. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $33,600. This
was a very acceptable 2600 that sold for a
song. Twice what was paid here would not have
been out of line. Performance, styling and general
rarity made this a well bought Alfa.
JAPANESE
#171-1964 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER
FJ-40 utility. S/N 4FJ423121. White/gray fabric.
Odo: 29,658 miles. Extensive, expensive
and impressive restoration. Glass-beaded
frame; nice paint shows minor crazing. Good
trim. Chrome bumpers and other goodies.
Features rebuilt engine, transmission, transfer
AMERICAN
#225-1937 OLDSMOBILE F-37 coupe.
S/N 444551. Tan/tan fabric. Odo: 66,265 miles.
Received an AACA First in 1992 and has been
well maintained. Paint in excellent order, just
minor trim issues. No issues with the fabric interior.
Striking Art-Deco dash. Engine compartment
clean with no leaks or streaks. A most
attractive older Oldsmobile. Cond: 2. NOT
SOLD AT $29,000. The F-Series was rede-
signed for 1937 and was well received. But
today the market for a 6-cylinder coupe is deep
and narrow, regardless of how nicely it's been
kept. To his credit, the owner worked the car all
weekend, but I don't think it was worth much
more than was bid here. The owner was a
dealer, however, so he might have an angle. I
wish him luck.
#363-1950 CHRYSLER
TOWN &
COUNTRY Newport coupe. S/N 7411710.
Green, white & wood/green fabric & leather.
323.5-ci I8, 2-bbl, 3-sp. In need of total restoration.
Paint chipped on hood with scratches and
blemishes elsewhere. Wood is split, chipped
and cracked. Trim badly pitted. Bumpers
scratched and dented. Not accepted as CCCA
Full Classic. From the last year of the inline-8
as well as wood-trim cars from Chrysler. Only
700 Town & Country Newports produced.
duction run, only 840 3.5-L drophead coupes
were produced for export. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT
$77,175. An elegant presentation
that was
properly restored. Price paid was about right
for a DHC in this condition. First order of business
should be the local tire store.
#383-1960 MORRIS MINOR pickup.
S/N 95619. Yellow & black/black vinyl. Odo:
case, axles and brakes. Was once used as a milk
truck. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $23,625. I'm willing
to bet the cost of restoration far exceeded the
price paid here. If one of these was on your
bucket list, then this example would be the one
to get. Price paid was in line with recent big
sales of properly restored Land Cruisers. Well
bought and sold.
126
Cond: 4. NOT SOLD AT $26,000. I watched
this car sell at McCormick's February 2010
Palm Springs sale for $36,225 (SCM# 159264),
which I called well sold. Prior to that, it sold
for $49,500 at RM's 2008 Ft. Lauderdale sale
where it was reported to be in #2 condition
(SCM# 58109). The past three years have not
been kind, as the car now pretty much needs it
all. Price bid was what the car was worth, all
things considered, so owner should have taken
his licks and moved on.
Sports Car Market

Page 126

McCormick Palm Springs, CA
#260-1951 NASH RAMBLER Series 10
convertible. S/N D91184. Blue/white
vinyl/gray fabric. Odo: 65,483 miles. 172-ci I6,
1-bbl, 3-sp. Convertible top slides back on
unique “bridge beam” side-rails above the
doors. Decent respray wears a few chips and
bruises. Interior decent. Sits on 100-inch
wheelbase. About 15,000 produced in 1951.
#13-1956 FORD THUNDERBIRD con-
vertible. S/N P6FH240253. Torch Red/red &
white vinyl. Odo: 54,889 miles. 312-ci V8,
4-bbl, auto. Second year for the extremely
popular Thunderbird. Major change was moving
the spare tire outboard, which totally
screwed up the handling. Torch Red paint professionaly
applied. Good panel fit with exception
of driver's door, which is out a bit at
correct, he might have had a chance at getting
his money back. Well bought.
Cond: 2. SOLD AT $20,475. This unique Nash
Rambler convertible was last seen at Silver's
2011 Carson City sale in August where it sold
for $13,500 (SCM# 189710). Three months
later, even after fees and transportation, a tidy
profit. And there may be a bit left on the table,
as these can sell for as much as $35k if near
perfect. Well sold and well bought.
#205-1951 PLYMOUTH CONCORD
2-dr sedan. S/N 18174860. Light blue/gray
fabric. Odo: 6,607 miles. 230-ci I6, 2x2-bbl,
auto. The Concord was the entry-level
Plymouth for 1951. The engine has been ported
and polished, with upgraded to 230-ci, ported
and polished with Edmonds dual carb intake.
Phillips headers and dual exhaust added.
Manual three-speed with overdrive. Optional
radio and heater. Side panel and seat upholstery
#178-1954 CADILLAC ELDORADO
convertible. S/N 546265839. Aztec Red/white
vinyl/red leather. Odo: 82,869 miles. 331-ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. A quality restoration in the
right colors. Excellent respray with no issues
noted. Brightwork has deep luster. Complete
with parade boot, but it needs attention. Leather
bottom. Includes porthole removable hard top.
Aftermarket radio with iPod. Equipped with
dual master cylinders. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD
AT $23,000. Values for early Thunderbirds
depend on the engine and condition. The seller's
assessment of condition here was at odds
with reality, as is often the case, hence the
failed sale. Price bid was within striking distance—too
bad it did not come together.
bench seat in as-new condition. A touch away
from being a Cadillac LaSalle Club top award
winner. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $81,375. A very
nice Eldo that was bid to and sold at a proper
price—if anything, this was under the market,
considering the condition. Now if it only had
air! Even so, I'll call it well bought at the
money.
don't match. Chrome and stainless to perfection.
Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $11,813. A ton of
money went into the restoration of this rather
plain-Jane Plymouth Concord. The plating bill
alone would have come close to the price paid
here. Little dramatic upside potential, but with
the performance enhancements, this could be a
real sleeper at the lights.
#231-1953 FORD F-100
pickup. S/N
F10R3D18969. Bright blue & white/cream
vinyl. Odo: 21,739 miles. 302-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Resprayed in brilliant bright blue which
needs a wet sand and buff. Trim pitted here and
there. Wears chrome bumper with small driving
lights. Interior well done. Fitted with 302
V8 and C4 transmission. A bit overpowering.
Cond: 2. SOLD AT $23,363. I'm willing to bet
the seller had a bunch more in this than the
final bid here. In a color that was more period-
128
Sun visor stained. Engine bay received a quick
detail. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $15,750. This has
the potential to be a very good buy. In decent
condition these push twice what was paid here.
With a little attention to detail, the new owner
just might have a fun take-the-gang-to-dinner
car that he won't lose money on. Well bought.
Sports Car Market
#283-1955 CHRYSLER NEW YORKER
St. Regis 2-dr hard top. S/N N5524548.
White & red/white vinyl & red fabric. Odo:
70,647 miles. 331.1-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. A striking
ten footer that has a long list of needs.
Recent respray to acceptable standard but
could've been better with more attention paid
to body prep. Window trim pitted, as is horn
ring and badge on the nose. Signs of age and
use on the upholstery. Passenger's door sticks.
#442-1956 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
MARK II 2-dr hard top. S/N 18962.
Black/black vinyl. Odo: 51,336 miles. 368-ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Once was a beautiful car, but
neglect has had its way with this one. Paint falling
off in chunks, and what's left is blistering
and cracked. Weird wire wheels. Driver's win-
dow cracked. Leather interior replaced with
cheap worn vinyl. Chrome dull and scratched.
A total mess. Cond: 5+. NOT SOLD AT
$8,000. Restoring these is an expensive and
time-consuming task. For a clapped-out mess,
high bid was all the money in the world, and
the car definitely should have sold.
#189-1956 OLDSMOBILE 88 Holiday
2-dr hard top. S/N 567C20853. Festival Red
& white/Alcan White/white vinyl & red fabric.
Odo: 68,834 miles. 324-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto.
The 88 was Oldsmobile's entry-level series.

ROUNDUP
Southwest & More Auction Action
Arizona is big, but it's not everything
CZECH
#446-1950 TATRA T600 TATRAPLAN
sedan. S/N 780378075310. Gray/dark blue
cloth. Odo: 64,732 miles. One of the most unusual
cars at the sale and one of the best examples
I have ever seen anywhere. Fully restored.
Couple minor dents noted near the engine bay.
Interior very well done—clean, crisp and a bit
bare. Just basic gauges, clock and heater. Hornbutton
center replaced with emblem from a
late-model Mercury. Engine runs quite nice,
Examining the goods at MotoeXotica's sale in Phoenix
A
longside our in-depth coverage of Arizona Auction Week's flagship sales, this issue
of SCM brings you a roundup of other recent and important sales. Whether you were
in Arizona, Missouri or Texas, there were a lot of cars crossing the block through the
winter and into the new year. Our seasoned auction analysts were on-site, inspecting
cars and prices, tracking sales and spotting trends, to bring you their up-to-the-second analysis
of the collectors' market.
Auctions Covered in This Roundup
Dan Kruse Classics, San Marcos, TX, 10/28/2011 — Phil Skinner (62/199 sold / $822k)
Leake, Dallas, TX, 11/18/2011 — Phil Skinner (318/565 sold / $6.6m)
MotoeXotica, Phoenix, AZ, 1/14/2012 — B. Mitchell Carlson (38/153 sold / $378k)
Silver, Fort McDowell, AZ, 1/20/2012 — B. Mitchell Carlson (158/270 sold / $2.7m)
Mecum, Kansas City, MO, 12/1/11 — B. Mitchell Carlson (562/844 sold / $12.3m) ♦
but some blue smoke noted, which might be
normal, or perhaps the rings are still seating
after rebuild. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT
$39,000. Don't take these odd-looking cars
lightly. They actually competed and survived
the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Their streamline design
makes them an instant eye-magnet, but
their feeding and care takes a special breed,
willing to hunt down difficult-to-find parts.
While the restoration didn't skimp, I think the
consignor's dream of $100k was out of the
world. High bid was low, but not by that much.
Leake, Dallas, TX, 11/11.
ENGLISH
#243-1953 MG TD roadster. S/N 25620.
Yellow & brown/tan cloth/yellow & brown.
Odo: 4,845 miles. Older restoration in odd
color combo commonly seen on replicars.
Curious checkerboard paint scheme on radiator
shutters, like a “Follow me” airfield car. Loaded
up with shiny trinkets out of 1970s restoration
catalogs: chrome fuel tank sides, wire wheels,
wood rim steering wheel, wood shift knob, luggage
rack, driving lamps, fender-top mirrors,
Silver's Fort McDowell sale
132
and requisite grille badge bar with badges. MG
club decals date to early 1980s. Tidy under the
hood with added chrome and 12-volt electrics.
Light wear on replacement seats and carpeting.
Cond: 3+. NOT SOLD AT $16,000. Never
before has someone worked so hard to create a
real car that looked spot-on like a replica. I
was almost surprised to see a motor up front
rather than an air-cooled VeeWee in the back.
Sports Car Market
Tony Piff

Page 132

ROUNDUP
Plenty
bid for it. Silver Auctions, Ft.
McDowell, AZ, 01/12.
#T234-1968 JAGUAR XKE 2+2 coupe.
S/N 1E78104. Light yellow/tan leather. Odo:
1,671 miles. Better-than-driver grade restoration
overall, with a bare body repaint. Mostly
replated brightwork, with some light pitting
underneath. Authentically restored interior,
with no signs of wear or use. Only items out of
sync are new modern color-coordinated seat
belts. Powertrain lightly modified, with head-
FRENCH
#283-1960 FACEL VEGA HK500 coupe.
S/N 855X. White/black leather. Odo: 50,216
miles. Recently awakened from long-term storage.
Brakes and motor serviced to become a
runner again. Repainted several decades ago,
with hammered-out dent on roof. Dull-butpresentable
chrome, loose-fitting door handles.
Windshield delaminating along edges. Older
radials on original knockoff steel wheels. Seats
starting to seam-separate, but have no tears.
Older wood refinishing holding up well. 1980s
Blaupunkt AM/FM. Topical engine bay cleanup
and this was well bought. Leake, Dallas, TX,
11/11.
#429-1967 MERCEDES-BENZ 230SL
convertible. S/N 11304212017797. Black &
red/black fabric/black leather. Odo: 24,146
miles. Looks like a high quality cosmetic refurbishing
within past few years. Some minor
scratches where top meets the metal behind the
driver. Paint otherwise very good all around.
Top not displayed, but said to be in excellent
condition. Lenses clear, glass shows no
scratches, bubbling or cracks. Chrome generally
good, but some minor scuffing seen on top
ers, triple side-draft Webers, low-restriction
exhaust, and pipe organ stainless steel outlets.
Factory a/c converted to modern refrigerant.
Excellent workmanship under the hood and on
fully rebuilt suspension. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT
$29,680. Seeing auction after auction of
E-Types restored for concours duty, it's refreshing
to see a nice one set up to play, tweaked for
more power than stock. Bought well, and I
hope to see it out at Road America during one
of the vintage race weekends. Mecum Auctions,
Kansas City, MO, 12/11.
#2427-1973 TRIUMPH TR6 convertible.
S/N CF6714U. Red/black fabric/black vinyl.
Odo: 74,800 miles. Sheet metal relatively
straight. Paint good, but some minor nicks
around engine bay and driver's door; could use
a deep detailing to bring the paint out a little
more. Chrome has no pitting but is a little dull.
Removable hard top is a few shades off from
rest of body. In-dash Alpine stereo, speakers
with new belts, hoses, clamps, battery, and ignition
wiring. Recently applied undercoating.
Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $87,000. Stated by the
consigning dealer to have been from the collection
of the late and dearly missed Raymond
Milo, one of our own from SCM. On one hand,
I'm a bit surprised that he would've had a
Facel that was this rough, but then again, when
it comes to Raymond, nothing surprised me. It
was a no-sale across the block at $80k, but
within an hour, Mitch declared on the block, “It
sold! The Facel sold!” Silver Auctions, Ft.
McDowell, AZ, 01/12.
GERMAN
#426-1959 BMW ISETTA 600 coupe. S/N
131595. White & yellow/black vinyl. Odo:
17,955 miles. Big brother to the little Isetta
300, but still underpowered for use on most
modern highways. Restored at least ten years
back, and has participated in several vintage
European tours and rallies, yet still in quite
presentable condition. Paint, panel fit, interior
and mechanicals all top-quality. Chrome and
of rear bumper. Fitted with GM Autronic Eye
and VDO in-dash clock. Cond: 2. SOLD AT
$33,000. The SCM Price Guide puts perfect
examples as high as $70k. This was nice but not
top-shelf, and the price paid was pretty much in
line for condition. Car did have Kenwood stereo
and add-on a/c, which added value as
creature comforts but at the expense of authenticity.
Matching numbers aren't as critical with
these models, and I think that with minimal
care and upkeep, this will provide lots of enjoyable
miles and a good return on the investment.
Leake, Dallas, TX, 11/11.
#T31-1971 VOLKSWAGEN
SQUAREBACK wagon. S/N 3612264902.
White/tan vinyl. Odo: 69,392 miles. Retains
original window sticker from when it was sold
new in Roswell, NM. Wears an old cheap repaint,
now mostly dull and starting to flake
along several masking edges. Dull original
trim, heavy dent on driver's door penetrates to
the sheet metal. Heavily sunburnt seats splitting
along seams at top corners. Driver's seat-
cut into doors. Seven-spoke alloy wheels set
the car off nicely. Overall a decent driver and
somewhat presentable. Cond: 3. SOLD AT
$12,650. I have always liked these little
Triumphs, and the price paid was in line for a
typical Sunday cruiser. With top values hitting
the $20k mark, this example has some potential
for upside with a little bit of work and possibly
putting on the original wheels. Despite being a
British car, the electrics have always worked
well for me, with the biggest concern being the
dual SU carb. A fair buy and a good sell.
Leake, Dallas, TX, 11/11.
134
glass in excellent condition. Wheels clean,
suspension sits level. Only major issues appear
to be some hazing and minor scratches on side
glass. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $25,410. I think this
was one of the better buys in Dallas. Seller was
looking for something north of $30k, but when
money was on the table, he decided to take it.
Anything “micro” continues to be desirable,
bottom obviously has been covered and is in far
better shape. Carpets heavily soiled and waterstained.
Thick oil gunk on most of engine and
undercarriage. With optional automatic transmission
and leatherette seating. Cond: 4-.
SOLD AT $3,100. The only people who pine
for a Squareback are those who grew up with
one—certainly not VW-trained mechanics, and
especially not for one with VW's slushbox
transmission. This was a solid car, but it needed
just about everything, and I can't imagine it
bringing more money anywhere else. Heck, it
did well to achieve this much. Mecum Auctions,
Kansas City, MO, 12/11.
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#1177-1974 BMW 2002 tii 2-dr sedan.
S/N 2780317. Dark green/black vinyl. Odo:
61,144 miles. Looks like it led a pretty rough
life, but has been revived to go on with Recaro
seats and headrests. Factory dash with all the
original instruments including a clock, but little
else. Radio antenna, but couldn't find the receiver.
Missing front bumper. Aluminum trim
oxidizing. Showing some signs of corrosion in
lower recesses. Underhood has all the proper
equipment, but possibly some changes in wir-
#299-2000 PORSCHE Boxster convert-
ible. S/N WPOC42981YU625056. Arctic
Silver/black canvas/black leather. Odo: 81,921
miles. A Texas car from new. Few minor nicks
up front, but no sign of hits or touch-ups.
Interior wear coincides with the miles on the
odometer. Top not sun-baked, nor is the interior.
Economy replacement tires. AM/FM/CD
sound system, anti-theft and upgraded trim
package, but not the Technic Sport Package.
straight body. Interior above average. Displayed
with top down, so inspection limited—fabrics
look fresh. Underhood in order, and seller
claims all maintenance kept up, including both-
ing and fuel delivery. Cond: 3. SOLD AT
$5,500. Overall condition held things back
here, and areas not readily visible were assumed
to have some metal health issues.
However, for the new owner there could be a
lot of trouble-free fun miles ahead, or at least
the basis for a solid restoration or track vehicle.
For the novice BMW fan, these cars are the
perfect introduction course, and the price could
probably be recouped without any major issues
or steep mounds of dollars invested. Well
bought for a tii. Leake, Dallas, TX, 11/11.
#284-1976 PORSCHE 911S coupe. S/N
9117300847. White & black/aqua plaid cloth.
Odo: 185,543 miles. Non-factory engraved
VIN tag. Original motor swapped for 3.2-liter
RUF-prepped version in 2010. Repainted in the
last few years to good standard, and fitted with
U.S.-spec headlights. Upgraded suspension
components in recent years, along with supplementary
oil cooler. Stock Fuchs wheels with
newer Bridgestone Potenza radials. Decent
body and door shut lines, and solid door fit.
Generally tidy and somewhat clean motor, used
Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $7,480. Still too new to be
valued by collectors as anything more than a
used car, but I think this was one of the best
buys in San Marcos, considering the car looked
like it had been taken care of. Barring surprises
under the hood, I would say anything under
$12k for this vehicle was a great buy and a nice
entry-level German sports car. Dan Kruse
Classics, San Marcos, TX, 10/11.
ITALIAN
#T108-1982 FIAT 2000 spider. S/N
ZFAAS00B5C5002843. Two-tone red/tan
vinyl/tan vinyl. Odo: 83,428 miles. Non-stock
accent painting on the hood bubbles and gas
filler compartment door. Age & Treachery
Racing decal on the windshield. Windshield
washer nozzles missing, indicated by holes on
the cowl. Replacement top saturated in top
dressing. All original upholstery, with only
light wear and aging. Dash has several cracks
on it. Crudely installed DIN-mount CD stereo
ersome timing belt. Wheels and tires clean, and
wear is even, no signs of any problems. Does
have upgraded Panasonic stereo. Cond: 2-.
NOT SOLD AT $5,500. These cars are
plagued by boxy styling, questionable twinturbo
design and maintenance issues, pretty
much relegating them to the entry-level of exotics.
This one, most importantly, showed no
signs of neglect, meaning there's a chance it
could be a good car. The SCM Price Guide
gives a range of $7,200 to $12,300 for fuel-injected
spyders, so this offer shows that the right
buyer just wasn't in the room. Leake, Dallas,
TX, 11/11.
JAPANESE
#238-1971 HONDA 600 2-dr sedan. S/N
AN6001028524. White/black vinyl/black
vinyl. Odo: 44,438 miles. Older repaint starting
to get chalky in places. Presentable but dulling
original chrome and trim. Black plastic plugs in
original vinyl roof from something previously
mounted there—likely a luggage rack. Slight
dullness and fading of the rear brake light
lenses. Dead, hard rubber for the swing-out
side window glass seals. Chalky dashboard
plastic. Good original interior upholstery, with
flattened seat foam. Old bias-ply tires on the
car undercarriage. Restored seats with the correct
plaid fabric. Modern DIN-mount sound
system in the dash. Cond: 3-. NOT SOLD AT
$12,500. This car's engine generated tons of
oil smoke anytime it was running. If there were
any mosquitoes in Arizona, they are all certainly
dead after this was driven across the
block. A period RUF conversion is one thing,
but this new conversion is going to have to pass
smog. High bid valued the car correctly as it
was presented. Silver Auctions, Ft. McDowell,
AZ, 01/12.
136
system in center console. Light engine compartment
cleanup, none on the undercarriage.
The exhaust system is getting a few rattles.
Cond: 3+. NOT SOLD AT $5,750. Last seen
here two years ago, at Mecum's 2009 December
KC sale, selling for $8,500 (SCM record #
153229). Since it only had two hundred more
miles on it today, the seller seemed to have had
his fill of FIAT in short order and wanted to
move on. Top bid was low by a few grand or so.
Mecum Auctions, Kansas City, MO, 12/11.
#182-1989 MASERATI BITURBO spy-
der. S/N ZAMFN1107KA331857. Black/tan
fabric/ black vinyl. Odo: 30,914 miles. Very
stock steel wheels. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $5,130.
While Honda had taken a swing at the U.S.
market in the 1960s with their 600 roadster, the
1970-71 600 coupes and sedans were the first
practical cars they regularly imported—entrenching
them in the States for evermore.
While the coupes come off as a caricature of
the later first-gen Civics, the 2-door sedans
come off as a copy of the Mini. It looks like
Japanese cars from the 1970s may finally be
generating some collector interest (especially
on the left coast), and this seemed like a decent
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deal for all parties involved. Silver Auctions,
Ft. McDowell, AZ, 01/12.
AMERICAN
#T223-1947 CROSLEY SERIES CC 2-dr
sedan. S/N 55006R. Green metallic/brown
vinyl. Odo: 36,100 miles. Car was put away 35
years ago, per dust thickness on everything.
Wears a set of California black license plates
and an old, buffed-out repaint, speckled with
dark spots from acid rain or bird poop. Dull
chrome and stainless trim—except for the
windshield wipers, which are missing. Stiff,
#236-1956 OLDSMOBILE SUPER 88
Holiday 2-dr hard top. S/N 567K16862. Red
& white/red vinyl. Odo: 35,251 miles. 324-ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Great first impression, but
closer look shows shortcuts taken on a mostly
cosmetic restoration. Some body panel repair
noted at lower regions. Driver's door latches
need lubrication. Underhood looks clean but
not concours-ready. Equipped with power
steering and brakes, but not windows or doors.
Top-of-the-line radio and heater-defroster, reportedly
in good working order. Unfortunately
Light green & white/white vinyl & dark green
cloth. Odo: 52,959 miles. 318-ci V8, 2-bbl,
auto. Very solid body, recent repaint plus some
chrome work makes a great first impression.
Some overspray. Interior a little frayed.
Instrument panel hazy; odometer out of alignment,
which might indicate mileage tampering;
dash somewhat sun-baked. Underhood fairly
original. Appointed with typical AM radio and
push-button heater-defroster, matching the
push-button automatic shifter. Cond: 3-. NOT
SOLD AT $13,500. An impressive vehicle, and
the Phoenix was the top-trim Dart for 1960, but
worn and soiled seats and vinyl covers. Red
radio-delete plate in the dash. Dustiest areas are
under the hood and in the trunk. Offered without
reserve. Cond: 5+. SOLD AT $4,050. On
Saturday they sold a Crosley Hot Shot, and
Thursday evening they sold this Crosley that
was just plain shot. Regardless of the California
black plates, this was all the money in the
world for a long-term project. Mecum
Auctions, Kansas City, MO, 12/11.
#57-1951 CHEVROLET 3100 Deluxe
pickup. S/N 3JPE18799. Eng. # JBA648293.
Red/dark brown naugahyde. Odo: 49,260
miles. 236-ci I6, 1-bbl, 3-sp. Decked out fivewindow
model with factory heater and very
rare dash-mounted radio. Was previously given
a full professional restoration, but appears to
have been sitting out for a time, as paint is a
little dulled, wood in bed needs refinishing and
running boards show some wear and tear.
Chrome and glass good, doors and hood all line
does not have the Fiesta spinner wheelcovers,
but tires and wheels are in nice shape. Cond:
3+. NOT SOLD AT $22,500. One of the most
popular Olds models of all time, this car had
several very interested parties prior to coming
on the block, and I really though it was going to
sell. As presented, this was about a $25k car,
and the bid came within 10% of that. The market
is still soft in a lot of places, like Texas, and
I think the seller will regret his decision to take
it
back
home. Dan Kruse Classics, San
Marcos, TX, 10/11.
#434-1959 DESOTO FIREFLITE
Sportsman 4-dr hard top. S/N M451104001.
Medium green metallic/tan vinyl & cloth. Odo:
91,887 miles. 383-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Full cosmetic
restoration with excellent paint, chrome,
glass and body work. Soft trim redone in original-style
materials and in good order.
Underhood clean but not 100% sanitary. Very
well appointed, with power steering, power
brakes, power windows and power adjuster
swivel front seats, plus radio, heater-defrost
and clock. Also fitted with period aftermarket
the seller needs a reality check. He must not
have noticed that the car had four doors and
that the top doesn't go down. But seller also
claimed the car was built in Australia, so who
knows what to think? The money bid was more
than enough. Leake, Dallas, TX, 11/11.
#F36-1962 CHEVROLET CORVAIR
Monza coupe. S/N 20927W232566. Blue
metallic/black & white cloth. Odo: 92,745
miles. 146-ci H6, 3x1-bbl, 4-sp. Originally
Satin Silver paint with black all-vinyl interior.
Recent repaint in what is essentially late 1960s
Chevy LeMans Blue, with light overspray on
the dirty undercarriage. Fitted with 1964 threeprong
wire wheelcovers and rear grille. Seating
surfaces have been reupholstered in non-stock
up at or above factory specs. No sign of rustout.
Mechanicals in very good condition both
to eye and ear. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT
$16,000. These Advanced Design Chevy pickups
continue to attract collectors, but this one
did not find a new owner. The bid seemed fair
here, as the truck really needed some cosmetic
freshening. I suppose it might retail for as much
as $20k as presented here, but for wholesale or
dealer inventory, this bid was about right. Dan
Kruse Classics, San Marcos, TX, 10/11.
138
a/c. Driver's outside door handle not functional.
Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT $19,000.
Cars with fins are big in Europe, but to get
more than a passing glance in the U.S.A., it
needs to be a two-door hard top or two-door
convertible. That's too bad, because here was a
great looking car that had a great Exner look
and nearly everything desirable in these models.
The bid looked like top money for the
States, and might be at the limit for a foreign
buyer, too, once he or she figures in shipping
and tax liabilities. Should have been enough.
Leake, Dallas, TX, 11/11.
#1199-1960 DODGE DART PIONEER
Phoenix 4-dr hard top. S/N 5302231095.
burlap fabric. Topical engine bay cleanup, with
many non-stock service components on the
motor. Optional 102-hp engine, 4-speed, and
heavy-duty suspension (although the rebound
straps in the rear have rotted away). Cond: 3.
NOT SOLD AT $4,500. 92k is a bunch of
miles for a Corvair, no matter how you slice it.
(Not that much of anything was original on it
anyway.) Signage later indicated that the seller
needed to sell and was open to offers. Sorry, the
one you had was more than plenty. Mecum
Auctions, Kansas City, MO, 12/11.
#206-1966 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE
SS 396 convertible. S/N 138676B126685.
Artesian Turquoise/black vinyl/black vinyl.
Odo: 82,745 miles. 396-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp.
Authentic frame-off restoration in the original
color and trim codes, but with replacement engine
block. Nice repaint, average panel fit.
Less-than-inspiring top workmanship. Modern
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non-OEM windshield fitted. Good upholstery
installation, but with a lower-grade incorrect
grain vinyl kit. Tidy under the hood, but not up
to show standards. Missing all of the windshield
wiper hardware and hoses, apart from
bare nozzles with nothing to connect to.
Equipped with factory optional center console
and AM radio. Cond: 2-. NOT SOLD AT
$30,000. While rolling off the block, the auctioneer
stated that the bidding was “$10,000
short.” If you ask me, this was plenty bid.
Silver Auctions, Ft. McDowell, AZ, 01/12.
#1155-1968 PONTIAC GTO 2-dr hard
top. S/N 242378P356208. Beige/dark brown
vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 1,822 miles. 400-ci V8,
4-bbl, auto. Good eye appeal, decent repaint
done in original color, some shortcuts in masking
and overspray noted. Vinyl top has a few
minor wrinkles near C-pillar. Interior is tight
and fresh, but with aftermarket gauges.
Equipped with usual power steering, front disc
brakes, and a/c, plus non-locking 2.93:1 rear
axle and sought-after retractable headlights.
Best of all, PHS documents confirm numbers-
Goodyear Polyglas tires and rear deck spoiler.
Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD AT $48,500. The restoration
was actually a decade old (or more), but
this still looked fresh. Not quite show-winning,
but it could be detailed to a second or third
place. Real-deal Z11s like this one can net $10k
more than this bid, so the seller did the right
thing in holding onto it. Dan Kruse Classics,
San Marcos, TX, 10/11.
#T180-1969 CHEVROLET CORVAIR
Monza coupe. S/N 105379W705901. Olympic
Gold/black vinyl. Odo: 54,935 miles. 164-ci
H6, 4x1-bbl, auto. Actual miles, interior and
powertrain claimed original, repainted better
than average, but not by a whole lot. New body
panel seals, gaps decent. Wears modern plastic
wiper blades. Corsa membership decal in rear
window. Tidy interior, with light wear and soiling.
Rather dingy engine bay, with heavily
fuel-stained carbs, modern battery and cables,
plus just enough dust to show that it wasn't
detailed at the last minute. Equipped with op-
(no a/c) and proper in-dash AM radio with period
FM conversion mounted neatly. Cond: 3.
NOT SOLD AT $6,000. Great eye appeal on
this family SUV. There was some genuine interest
in this, and I would have loved to have
heard the word “sold” follow the bid, but the
seller wanted at least another $2,500, which
just wasn't here with this crowd. A good honest
truck, but considering the mileage (with the
odo certainly on its second time around) and
potential can-of-worms mechanicals,
plenty
bid. Dan Kruse Classics, San Marcos, TX,
10/11.
#52-1970 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE
SS 396 2-dr hard top. S/N 136370K160698.
Autumn Gold/black vinyl. Odo: 36,878 miles.
396-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Older cosmetic restoration
done on a tight budget. Paint shows some
blotchiness. Lots of small nicks on edges of
Cowl Induction hood may be due to sprung left
side hood hinge. Fitted with aftermarket AM/
FM cassette player. Rolls on factory SS-style
wheels with Goodyear Eagle ST raised white-
matching drivetrain. Cond: 3+. NOT SOLD
AT $17,000. Bidding for this car was strong,
but its early-morning time slot kept things
back. I would think a mid-day number might
have brought something closer to the $25k reserve.
I liked the car overall, and think that a
muscle-car person will eventually own it. Yet
somehow I foresee it passing through the hands
of several dealers before it finds a permanent
home. Despite heavy post-block wheeling and
dealing, nothing came together. Leake, Dallas,
TX, 11/11.
#261-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO
RS/SS Pace Car
convertible. S/N
124679N630102. White & orange/white
fabric/orange houndstooth vinyl. Odo: 61,529
miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Build plate confirms
it's a real RPO Z11 Pace Car. Paint and
graphics look fairly fresh, top is dated 2000.
Fitted with “horseshoe” shifter, power steering
and front disc brakes, factory AM/FM, cowl
induction hood, Rally wheels with proper
140
tional 140-hp engine, Powerglide automatic,
AM/FM radio and sport hubcaps. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $10,250. The wheel covers were
only optional in 1965 and 1966, but then were
brought back in 1969 for a final-year component
clean-out. Same is true of the 140-hp option,
made available again after mid-1968 in
order to use up service replacement engines.
This was 99 cars from the end of Corvair production,
and it was painted the same color as
what has proven to be the elusive last Corvair
made. A fair transaction for all, if not leaning
towards well bought. Mecum Auctions, Kansas
City, MO, 12/11.
TRAVELALL
#229-1969 INTERNATIONAL
1000
SUV. S/N
1000C212017H785818. Teal/gold vinyl &
cloth. Odo: 21,749 miles. 266-ci V8, 2-bbl,
auto. Well preserved but not pampered. Repaint
in original color presents well. Minor dings in
front sheet metal and trim, chrome scripts
nearly new. Glass and lenses presentable. Wee
bit of bubbling noted in lower door edges.
Windshield trim starting to show its age.
Interior in good shape, pedals show minimal
wear. Equipped with factory heater-defroster
letter tires. Engine fitted with Edelbrock intake
and carburetor, plus power steering and brakes,
with discs up front. Cond: 3-. NOT SOLD AT
$26,000. A rare color, but far from a showwinner.
The seller was looking for $32,500, but
I think that just a little bit more might have
gotten the job done. Bid was a on the generous
side, considering the condition. Dan Kruse
Classics, San Marcos, TX, 10/11.
#25-1972 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO
SS pickup. S/N 1D80H2K553075. Silver/black
vinyl. Odo: 98,857 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. A sharp-looking machine that's been
Sports Car Market

ROUNDUP
CZECH
#166-1935 BOHMERLAND LANG-
1955 Vincent Black Prince 998 cc, sold for $122,500
at Bonhams
Deals on Two
Wheels
Motorcycles Invade
Las Vegas in January
Report and photos by Somer Hooker
Market opinions in italics
Auctions America
Las Vegas Premier Motorcycle Auction
Las Vegas, NV
January 12–14, 2012
Auctioneer: Brent Earlywine
Motorcycle lots sold/offered: 400/489
Sales rate: 82%
Sales total: $4,056,714
High sale: 1910 Flying Merkel V-Twin
Belt Drive, $86,800
Buyer's premium: 12%
Bonhams
The Las Vegas Motorcycle Sale
Las Vegas, NV
January 12, 2012
Auctioneers: Malcom Barber, Rupert
Banner
Motorcycle lots sold/offered: 98/136
Sales rate: 72%
Sales total: $1,570,107
High sale: 1953 Vincent Black Shadow &
1955 Vincent Black Prince, $122,500
Buyer's premium: 17% up to $100,000; 10%
after
MidAmerica Auctions
The Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction
Las Vegas, NV
January 12–14, 2012
Auctioneers: Paul Behr, Dan Wall, Dan
Schorno, Gary Ordish
Motorcycle lots sold/offered: 386/470
Sales rate: 82%
Sales total: $4,647,518
High sale: 1915 Iver Johnson Twin
at $299,600
Buyer's premium: 7%
144
tires. Toolbox and early Delaware tag also intact.
Cond: 4+. NOT SOLD AT $16,965. This
had all of the proper early bits that you never
find, but it had been subjected to a few too
many years of ground fog. Most of these were
immediately pressed into service for off-road
use back in the day. It would have been a miracle
to find one that looked like this in 1955,
much less 2012. Strong money, but it may be
number. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $20,865. The
very docile motor in these would do 100 mph.
You could spend about this amount getting an
early BMW restored. This route saves you the
aggravation of going through the restoration,
plus you get preservation bragging rights. Well
bought. MidAmerica, Las Vegas, NV, 01/12.
Sports Car Market
carry three passengers and was popular for
police use. One of these was featured in the Art
of the Motorcycle exhibit at the Guggenheim in
the 1990s, and I later heard that it changed
hands for six figures in a private sale (although
that was never confirmed). This was well
bought for a museum display. If you rode it
down the street, people would probably line up
at the bus stop as you approached. MidAmerica,
Las Vegas, NV, 01/12.
ENGLISH
#218-1953 TRIUMPH TR5C motorcycle.
S/N 26085. Eng. # TR526085. Silver/black.
Odo: 1,760 miles. Another DuPont Collection
bike, very complete and original in barn-find
condition. Top of tank deteriorating rapidly.
Rust coming through paint. Chrome in advanced
stage of rusting but not completely
brown. Wheels rusting, but original paint in
center still good. Exhaust rusting and has been
wrapped in the back, probably for heat insulation.
Fitted with proper small Lucas headlight
and taillight, Smiths gauges, as well as Avon
TOUREN long-wheelbase motorcycle. S/N
Eng. # 111. Yellow & red/black. Very nice restoration.
All plating in good condition. Paint
and striping very good. Engine extremely well
detailed. Reverse levers typical of pre-war
Germany. Large Bosch headlight, optional torpedo
tanks in the rear. I doubt they ever looked
this good in the 1930s. No odometer or speedo,
mileage unknown. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT
$58,850. The longest motorcycle built. It would
the only one extant. Bonhams, Las Vegas, NV,
01/12.
#215-1953 VINCENT BLACK SHADOW
motorcycle. S/N RC11818B. Eng. #
F10AB1B9918. Black/black. Odo: 3,034
miles. Bike has been wrecked once. The
“upper” frame (Vincents don't really have
frames, per se) was replaced but included here.
Front fender tweaked from accident. Chrome
rusting on speedometer bezel and levers. Thin
enamel and faded striping on right side of tank.
Headlight rim dented. Exhaust pipes rusted and
#1 cylinder has a flat spot. Front rim replaced
with an enameled one at some point, rear rim
rusty. Original seat torn. Original alloy fenders.
Enameling on cases very good. Cond: 4. SOLD
AT $122,500. There's something about a barnfind
Vincent that stirs people's loins, and this
sold for a record. Bidding was quick and hard.
The bike came with numerous spares, including
the numbers-matching frame member. It would
be a great example to do a serious detailing on
and preserve as-is. U.K. buyer paid a rich
price, as you could put another $20,000 in it
just going through the motor. Well
Bonhams, Las Vegas, NV, 01/12.
sold.
GERMAN
#419-1956 BMW R69 motorcycle. S/N
652236. Eng. # 652236. Black/black. Odo:
2,298 miles. Unbelievable time-warp bike.
Paint and pin-striping in near-perfect condition.
Correct early speedometer intact. Optional
bench seat. Period-correct alloy rims. A few
minor scratches on fork. Later green Japanese
battery. Correct Metzler tires. Correct early
black metal cable straps. Engine and frame
number match, but the ID tag has a different

WHAT'S YOUR CAR
WORTH? FIND OUT AT
NOW FREE! The world's largest collector
car price guide based on
over 500,000 sold transactions
from
.
Updated weekly.
www.collectorcarpricetracker.com
April 2012
147

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Auction Companies
Artcurial-Briest-Poulain-Le Fur.
33 (0)1 42 99 2056, 33 (0)1 42 99 1639.
7, Rond-Point des Champs-Elysées,
75008 Paris, France.
Email: motorcars@auction.fr.
www.artcurial.com/motorcars. (FR)
Exoticars USA. 908.996.4889, Wil
Auctions America. 877.906.2437,
Formed in July 2010 as a subsidiary of
RM Auctions, the Auctions America
by RM team led by collector car expert
Donnie Gould, specializes in American
classics, Detroit muscle, hot rods, customs,
and vintage motorcycles. Consign
With Confidence.
www.auctionsamerica.com. (IN)
de Groot's Exoticars USA has serviced
and restored Ferrari, Maserati and
Lamborghini in the NJ, PA, NY region
since 1979. We're passionate about
keeping your car fast, reliable, beautiful
and authentic. Our mechanical, paint/
body, electronic, machining and fabricating
work is unsurpassed and award
winning. We have specialized equipment
and knowledge to service newer
and vintage models and everything in
between. www.exoticars-usa.com. (NJ)
eBay Motors. List your car for
sale. $0 insertion fee. $60 listing fee
if vehicle sells for under or at $2,000,
$125 if it sells for over $2,000. Visit the
“Services” section on www.ebaymotors.com
for more details.
customer service and fast paced twolane
auction ring makes them a leader
in the business. Leake currently operates
auctions in Tulsa, Oklahoma City,
Dallas and San Antonio. Visit them
online at www.leakecar.com or call
800.722.9942.
Oklahoma City – February 17-18,
2012 at Cox Pavilion
San Antonio – April 20-21, 2012 at
Freeman Coliseum
Tulsa – June 8-10, 2012 at QuikTrip
Center
Dallas – November 16-18, 2012 at
Dallas Market Hall
Monterey, CA every August and Scottsdale,
AZ every January. As one of the
premier auction events in the United
States, Russo and Steele has developed
a reputation for its superior customer
service and for having the most experienced
and informed experts in the industry.
www.russoandsteele.com. (AZ)
Santiago Collector Car Auctions.
405.475.5079, 501 E. Britton Rd.,
Oklahoma City, OK 73114. Rocky:
rockydb5@sbcglobal.net. (OK)
Silver Auctions. 800.255.4485,
Mecum Collector Car AuctionBarrett-Jackson
Auction.
480.421.6694, 480.421.6697. For nearly
four decades, the Barrett-Jackson Auction
Company has been recognized
throughout the world for offering only
the finest selection of quality collector
vehicles, outstanding professional
service, and an unrivaled sales success.
From classic and one-of-a-kind cars
to exotics and muscle cars, BarrettJackson
attracts only the best. Our
auctions have captured the true essence
of a passionate obsession with cars that
extends to collectors and enthusiasts
throughout the world. A television
audience of millions watch unique and
select vehicles while attendees enjoy a
lifestyle experience featuring fine art,
fashion and gourmet cuisine. In every
way, the legend is unsurpassed. N.
Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251.
info@barrett-jackson.com.
www.barrett-jackson.com. (AZ)
Bonhams. +44.207.228.8000,
+44.207.585.0830. Montpelier St.,
Knightsbridge, London, SW7 1HH.
www.bonhams.com. (UK)
Bonhams & Butterfields.
415.391.4000, 415.391.4040. 220 San
Bruno Avenue, San Francisco, CA
94103 www.butterfields.com. (CA)
Branson Collector Car Auction.
800.335.3063, 417.336.5616. 1316
W. Hwy. 76, Suite 199, Branson, MO
65616. www.bransonauction.com. (MO)
Hollywood Wheels Auctions &
Shows 800.237.8954, Hosting two
auctions a year in beautiful Palm Beach
FL, March & December. Offering
quality collector cars and personalized
service, all in a climate controlled, state
of the art facility. Come be a part of the
excitement! Check us out at www.hollywoodcarauctions.com...
Where Col-
lectors Collect! See You On The Block!
eers. 815.568.8888, 815.568.6615. The
Mecum Auction Company has been
specializing in the sale of collector cars
for over 23 years, offering an industryleading
5,000 collector cars per year.
Watch Mecum Auctions live on Discovery's
HD Theater. Consignment, bidder
and event information is available
online. 950 Greenlee ST, Marengo, IL
60015 www.mecumauction.com. (IL)
Gooding & Company.
310.899.1960, 310.899.0930. Gooding
& Company offers its international
clientele the rarest, award-winning examples
of collector vehicles at the most
prestigious auction venues. Our team of
well-qualified experts will advise you
on current market values. Gooding &
Company presents the official auction
of the famed Pebble Beach Concours
d'Elegance in August, the recordsetting
Scottsdale Auction in January
and a world-class auction at the Omni
Amelia Island Plantation in Florida in
March. www.goodingco.com. (CA)
H&H Classic Auctions. +44 8458
334455, +44 8458 334433. The Motor
House Lyncastle Road Warrington England.
WA4 4BSN
www.handh.co.uk. (UK)
Palm Springs Auctions Inc.
Keith McCormick. 760.320.3290,
760.323.7031. 244 N. Indian Canyon
Dr., Palm Springs, CA 92262
www.classic-carauction.com. (CA)
The Worldwide Group.
866.273.6394, Established by John
Kruse and Rod C. Egan, The Worldwide
Group—Auctioneers, Appraisers
and Brokers—is one of the world's
premier auction houses, specializing in
the procurement and sale of the world's
finest automobiles and vintage watercraft.
www.wwgauctions.com. (IN)
Tom Mack Classics. 888.TOM.
RM Auctions, Inc. 800.211.4371,
Carlisle Collector Car Auctions.
717.243.7855, 1000 Bryn Mawr Road,
Carlisle, PA 17013. Spring and Fall
Auctions. High-line cars cross the
block. Hundreds of muscle cars, antique,
collector, and special-interest
cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Real
Cars. Real Prices.
www.carlisleauctions.com. (PA)
158
519.351.1337. With over three decades
of experience in the collector car industry,
RM's vertically integrated range of
services, coupled with an expert team
of car specialists and international
footprint, provide an unsurpassed level
of service to the global collector car
market. www.rmauctions.com. (CAN)
MACK, PO Box 1766, Indian Trail, NC
28079. Three annual auctions in Charlotte,
NC: April, September, and January.
Selling Southern muscle, collector,
and antique cars with experience and
integrity for 24 years. North Carolina
auction license 4017.
www.tommackclassics.com. (NC)
Alfa Romeo
MotoeXotica Classic Cars & Auc-
tions. 866.543.9393, After 24 years of
selling classic cars, MotoeXotica has
branched out with classic & exotic car
auctions. MotoeXotica currently has
auctions in St. Louis, Missouri, Springfield,
Missouri, and Phoenix, Arizona.
Combining some of the industry's lowest
entry fees and commissions MotoeXotica
is poised to keep expanding
while maintaining superior customer
service. Contact MotoeXotica today at
866-543-9393 or online at
www.motoexotica.com. Worth the trip!
Silver Auctions isn't successful because
we auction the most expensive cars,
we're successful because we auction
the cars that you love. Silver Auction's
staff, bidders and consignor are everyday
people with a passion for Nostalgic
and Collector cars. Come see the difference
at Silver Auctions. 2020 N.
Monroe, Spokane, WA 99205. silver@
silverauctions.com.
www.silverauctions.com. (WA)
Specialty Auto Auctions and Sales.
800.901.0022, Established by Bruce
and Helen Douglas in 1987. Based
in Colorado and doing auctions in
Colorado, Nevada and South Dakota.
This year we will join forces with Hot
August Nights and B & T Custom Rods
for two sales in Nevada. We will also
be working with Automania for sales in
South Dakota. For personalized service
contact us. www.saaasinc.com. (CO)
Russo and Steele Collector AuLeake
Auctions. 800.722.9942,
Join Leake Auction Company as they
celebrate 40 years in the collector car
auction industry. Their unsurpassed
tomobile Auctions. 602.252.2697,
602.252.6260. Specializing in the finest
European sports, American muscle, hot
rods and custom automobiles; Russo
and Steele hosts two record breaking
ALL RESERVE auctions per year;
Centerline Products. 888.750.
ALFA, Exclusively Alfa Romeo for
over 30 years - rely on our experience
to build and maintain your dream Alfa.
Restoration, maintenance, and performance
parts in stock for Giulietta
Sports Car Market

Page 157

through 164. Newly developed products
introduced regularly. Check our web
site for online store, new arrivals, tech
tips, and special offers.
www.centerlinealfa.com. (CO)
Jon Norman's Alfa Parts.
800.890.2532, 510.525.9519. 1221
Fourth Street, Berkley, CA 94710.
Large selection of parts from Giulietta
to 164. Efficient, personal service.
www.alfapartscatalog.com. (CA)
Appraisals
Vintage Auto Posters. Since 1980,
Auto Appraisal Group.
800.848.2886, Offices located nationwide.
Pre-purchase inspection service,
insurance matters, charitable donations,
resale vales, estates, expert witness
testimony. On-site inspection. Certified,
confidential, prompt, professional.
“Not just one man's opinion of value.”
See web site for locations and service
descriptions. www.autoappraisal.com.
Everett Anton Singer has been supplying
international collectors with
the most diverse selection of authentic
vintage automotive posters. The vast
inventory runs from the late 1890s
through the 1960s; featuring marque,
event and product advertising. Please
visit us at:
www.VintageAutoPosters.com.
Buy/Sell/General
Automobilia
Steve Austin's Automobilia &
Great Vacations. 800.452.8434, European
Car Collector tours including
Monaco & Goodwood Historics, private
collections, and car manufacturers.
Automobile Art importer of legendary
artists Alfredo de la Maria and Nicholas
Watts.
www.steveaustinsgreatvacations.com.
Drive in or fly in...you will find us most
accommodating.
www.hartekautomotive.org (IA)
Classic Car Transport
Motor Auto Express, Inc.
360.661.1734, Enclosed Transport.
MAX cares for what you care for. We
offer Personal, Private, Professional
services with liftgate loading for your
vehicles. Please contact Randy McKinley,
Owner. maxiet@gmail.com. (WA)
indiGO Classic Cars.
888.255.5546, indiGO Classic Cars
buys individual cars and collections
specializing in the purchase of Ferraris,
Lamborghinis, Maseratis,
Porsche and Mercedes.
indiGO will pay for shipping, handle
paperwork and will gladly pay finder's
fees. indiGO has capital and large lines
of credit to pay the highest prices. indiGO
Classic Cars is an indiGO Auto
Group dealership.
www.indigoclassiccars.com. (TX)
Passport Transport. 800.736.0575,
Luxury Brokers International.
Specializing in the Purchase, Sales,
and Brokerage of Fine Automobiles and
Alternative Investments. Adolfo Massari
610.716.2331 or Andrew Mastin
215.459.1606. Email: Sales@lbilimited.
com. Web: www.LBILimited.com.
Brighton Motorsports.
Gooding & Company.
310.899.1960, Gooding & Company's
experts are well-qualified to individual
automobiles as well as collections and
estates. Whether it is the creation of a
foundation, living trust or arrangement
of a charitable donation, we are able to
assist you. www.goodingco.com. (CA)
480.483.4682, Brighton Motorsports,
Scottsdale, Arizona, is a unique dealership
specializing in Vintage European
and American Collector Cars with their
Sales/Showroom and Mechanical Repair
facility in the heart of Scottsdale's
legendary auction arena. They also
have a state-of-the-art paint & body
shop specially equipped to do all levels
of repair and restoration just down the
road, creating a one stop shop for the
avid car enthusiast.
www.brightonmotorsports.com. (AZ)
International Auto Appraisers
Resource. Use IAAA Appraisers' to
perform insurance and legal appraisals
and pre-purchase inspections; It is
IAAA the largest association that certifies
auto appraisers, who follow ethics,
participate in ongoing training for
IAAA/Uniform Standards for Automotive
Appraisal Procedures™. Certifications
include Master Automotive Appraiser™
and Automotive Arbitration/
Mediation Umpire™. The apprentice
program was used by Mitchell International
and other qualified applicants
from the automotive industry. Locate
IAAA members and get association
info.
www.autoappraisersassociation.com.
Paul Russell and Company.
978.768.6092, www.paulrussell.com.
Specializing in the Preservation and
Sales of European Classics, pre-war
through the 1970s, since 1978. You
can rely on our decades of experience
with Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, Porsche,
Bugatti, Alfa Romeo and other fine
collectibles. Repeat customers are the
lifeblood of our business. Contact us
today to join them. Car Sales Manager,
Alex Finigan: Alex@paulrussell.com.
(MA)
Since our founding in 1970, we have
shipped thousands of treasured vehicles
door-to-door with our fully enclosed
auto transporters. Whether your prized
possession is your daily driver, a vintage
race car, a classic, a '60s muscle
car, or a modern exotic you can depend
on Passport Transport to give you the
premium service it deserves. We share
your appreciation for fine automobiles
and it shows.
www.PassportTransport.com.
Collector Car Insurance
Chubb Collector Car Insurance.
1.866.CAR.9648, The Chubb Collector
Car Insurance program provides flexibility
by allowing you to choose the
agreed value and restoration shop.
Broad coverage includes no mileage
restrictions and special pricing for large
schedules. For more information contact
us at 1(866)CAR-9648 or
www.chubbcollectorcar.com.
Grundy Worldwide. 800.338.4005,
Classic Showcase. 760.758.6199,
760.758.0600. sales 760.758.6100.Fullservice
restorations. Creating show
winners in a world-classic restoration
facility. Specializing in European
classics. Superb fit; attention to detail;
great craftsmanship. “Where great cars
achieve perfection.” Located in San
Diego County. sales@classicshowcase.
com. www.classicshowcase.com. (CA)
Hartek Automotive, 319.337.4140,
West Coast Auto Appraisals.
310.827.8400, Pre purchase, diminished
value, total loss settlements,
expert witness. Let us be your eyes and
ears, friendly and very knowledgeable
car experts, muscle cars, street rods,
Europeans, full classics, modern day
and more. Servicing all of California,
nationwide for larger car collections.
Member of IAAA and AMA. Check out
our website for a full list of services.
www.thecarappraiser.com. (CA)
April 2012
Hartek Automotive is a division of
Hartwig Motors Inc, one of the oldest
automotive retailers in the Midwest
since 1912. Hartek Automotive specializes
in the maintenance and sale of
sports and prestige automobiles. Their
reputation for service continues with a
very personalized approach to maintenance
of an individual's daily driver, to
the restoration of that special automobile.
Hartek Automotive also offers presale
or post-sale inspections. Uniquely
located in Iowa we are equally accessible
for the enthusiast from anywhere.
Woodies USA. 949.412.8812, We
buy and sell great woodies - hundreds
to date. If you are buying or selling give
us a call. We can help. Woodies are
fun! Every car collection should have
at least one. Located in Laguna Niguel,
California (new location).
www.woodiesusa.com. (CA)
The Last Detail. 847.689.8822
North Chicago / Kenilworth, Il., As
“Trusted Advisors” for over 35 years
we have been assisting enthusiasts
make critical decisions before creating
costly mistakes. Whether servicing,
buying or selling, your one stop destination
for all of your automotive needs,
Down to....The Last Detail!
www.thelastdetail.com. (IL)
Grundy Worldwide offers agreed value
insurance with no mileage limitations,
zero deductible*, and high liability
limits. Our coverages are specifically
designed for collector car owners.
From classic cars to muscle cars,
Grundy Worldwide has you covered.
www.grundy.com. (PA)
Hagerty Insurance Agency, LLC.
800.922.4050, is the leading insurance
agency for collector vehicles in the
world and host to the largest network of
collector car owners. Hagerty offers insurance
for collector cars, motorcycles
and motorcycle safety equipment, tractors,
automotive tools and spare parts,
and even “automobilia” (any historic
or collectible item linked with motor
vehicles). Hagerty also offers overseas
shipping/touring insurance coverage,
commercial coverage and club liability
coverage. For more information, call or
visit www.hagerty.com. (MI)
159

Page 158

complete frame-off restoration. Large
inventory of parts. All services as well
as our current unventory of automobiles
for sale can be seen at
www.autosportdesigns.com. (NY)
vices all exotic cars including Ferraris,
Maseratis, Lamborghinis, Bentleys
and Aston Martins. Lamborghini
Houston offers shipping nationwide.
Lamborghini Houston is an indiGO
Auto Group dealership.
www.lamborghinihouston.com. (TX)
Heacock Classic. 800.678.5173, We
understand the passion and needs of
the classic car owner; agreed value, one
liability charge, 24-hour claim service
and paying by credit card. We provide
classic car insurance at rates people can
afford! Instant quotes at
www.heacockclassic.com. (FL)
Fourintune Garages Inc.
262.375.0876, www.fourintune.com.
With over 25 years of experience in
complete ground-up restoration on
British Marques — specializing in
Austin-Healeys for 35 years. Experience
you can trust, satisfied customers
nationwide. Visit our website for details
on our restoration process. Located in
historic Cedarburg since 1976 — just
minutes north of Milwaukee. (WI)
Randy Simon. 310.274.7440, ^
310.274.9809. I constantly collect and
sell all Ferraris, Maseratis, and Lamborghinis.
If I don't have what you seek,
I can usually find it for you (at low
prices). Please call anytime for straight
advice on the market. Finder's fee gladly
paid. simonrandy@aol.com (CA)
Mercedes-Benz Classic Center.
1.866.MB.CLASSIC, The center of
competence for classic Mercedes-Benz
enthusiasts – for vintage car sales, meticulous
restorations by manufacturertrained
technicians and the widest
selection of Genuine Mercedes-Benz
Classic Parts, we are the source.
www.mbclassiccenter.com. (CA)
Diego. Sales@europeancollectibles.
com or visit our website
www.europeancollectibles.com. (CA)
J.C. Taylor Insurance.
800.345.8290, Antique, classic, muscle
or modified — J.C. Taylor Insurance
has provided dependable, dynamic,
affordable protection for your collector
vehicle for over 50 years. Agreed
Value Coverage in the continental U.S.,
and Alaska. Drive Through Time With
Peace of Mind with J.C. Taylor Insurance.
Get a FREE instant quote online
at www.JCTaylor.com.
Motor Sport Personal Accident
Coverage. 441.297.9439, 441.296.2543.
Email, mcooke@evolution.bm. Limits
up to $1,000,000 including accident
medical and helicopter evacuation.
Comp Capital Ltd. can obtain coverage
at competive rates including drivers
over the age of 65. Either 12-month
policy covering a whole season and or
for specific events. Please contact Mark
Cooke and or Kevin Way.
English
AC Owner's Club Limited.
503.643.3225, 503.646.4009. US Registrar:
Jim Feldman, 11955 SW Faircrest
St., Portland, OR 97225-4615. The
world's largest organization of AC owners
and enthusiasts. AC ownership not
required. Monthly magazine. Email:
jim@jwfrestoration.com. (OR)
Kevin Kay Restorations.
530.241.8337, 1530 Charles Drive, Redding,
CA 96003. Aston Martin parts,
service, repair, and restoration. From an
oil change to a concours-winning restoration,
we do it all. Modern upgrades
for power steering, window motors,
fuel systems, and more. Feltham Fast
performance parts in stock. We also
cater to all British and European cars
and motorcycles.
www.kevinkayrestorations.net. (CA)
Ferrari/Maserati/Lamborghini
RPM Classic Sports Cars.
802.877.2645, With over 25 years of
experience in Classic Italian Sports
cars, we know how to make your car
perform as new. Please visit our website
showing numerous cars for sale and a
frequently updated BLOG to see what
is going on in our busy shop including
video links of engines being run on a
test stand and on a chassis dynamometer.
Our two car enclosed transporter
makes getting your car to our shop
within the northeast a breeze.
www.rpmvt.com.
German
Porsche of North Houston.
888.588.7634, Porsche of North Houston
is a factory authorized Porsche
dealership committed to all things
Porsche. Porsche of North Houston activates
experiential Porsche ownership
for customers offering a large selection
of new, pre-owned and vintage
Porsches. We offer nationwide shipping.
Porsche of North Houston is an
indiGO Auto Group dealership.
www.porscheofnorthhouston.com.(TX)
Import/Export
Carobu Engineering. 949.722.9307,
Ferrari specialist. Engine rebuilding/
development, dyno-testing, parts and
service. Your source for high performance
brakes, suspension, gaskets,
engine parts, wheels and exhaust.
Dealer for Tubi, Brembo, Koni, Razzo
Rosso, Sangalli, Zanzi, Novitech Rosso
and X-Ost. WWW.CAROBU.COM.
Cosdel International TransportaClassic
Showcase. 760.758.6199,
760.758.0600. sales 760.758.6100. Fullservice
restorations. Creating show
winners in a world-classic restoration
facility. Specializing in European
classics. Superb fit; attention to detail;
great craftsmanship. “Where great cars
achieve perfection.” Located in San
Diego County. sales@classicshowcase.
com www.classicshowcase.com. (CA)
FerrariChat.com. The largest onAston
Martin of New England.
781.547.5959, 85 Linden Street,
Waltham, MA 02452. Proudly appointed
Aston Martin Heritage Dealer
for the USA. New and pre-owned Aston
Martins are our specialty. Please contact
us when buying, selling or restoring.
www.astonmartin-lotus.com. (MA)
line Ferrari community in the world
with over 80,000 registered users. 3,000
new posts a day from Ferrari owners,
historians, and enthusiasts along with 5
Million in our archives. Over 1,000 ads
in our Classifieds www.ferrarichat.com.
European Collectibles, Inc.
Lamborghini Houston.
AUTOSPORT DESIGNS, INC..
631.425.1555, All Aston Martin models
welcome regardless of age, as new inevitably
become old! Routine servcingcomplete
mechanical restorations/rebuilds
— Cosmetic repair/paintwork to
160
888.588.7634, Lamborghini Houston
is a factory authorized Lamborghini
dealership offering customers new and
pre-owned Lamborghinis in addition
to one of the largest selections of exotic
cars in the United States. With one of
the finest service facilities in the world,
Lamborghini Houston consistently ser-
949.650.4718, European Collectibles
has been buying, consigning, selling
and restoring classic European Sports
Cars since 1986. We specialize in
Porsche (356 and 911) 1950s to early
1970s along with other marks including
Mercedes, Aston Martin, Ferrari,
MG, Austin Healey & Jaguar with 40
vehicle in stock to chose from. European
Collectibles also offers complete
mechanical and cosmetic restorations to
Concours level along with routine service.
Located in Orange County, California
between Los Angeles and San
Automobile Inspections LLC.
860.456.4048, “When you need the
job done right.” The nation's premier
provider of pre-purchase inspections on
classic, exotic and specialty cars of any
year, anywhere in the USA or Canada.
Fast 72-hour turnaround! Hartford, CT.
www.automobileinspections.com. (CT)
tion. 415.777.2000, 415.543.5112. Since
1960 Cosdel International Transportation
has been handling international
shipments by air, ocean and truck.
Honest service, competitive pricing
and product expertise have made Cosdel
the natural shipping choice for the
world's best-known collectors, dealers,
and auction houses. If you are moving
a car, racing or rallying, or attending
a concours event overseas, we are the
comprehensive, worldwide resource for
all of your international shipping needs.
We are your automobile Export Import
Experts. www.cosdel.com. (CA)
Inspections
Sports Car Market

Carl Bomstead
eWatch
$1 Million for a Penny, $5,400 for a License Plate
Condition and rarity can make what was once common very valuable
Thought
Carl's A penny for your thoughts, or how about a $1,000,000 for your penny? A one-cent copper coin minted in the U.S. in 1793 recently
brought $1 million at the Florida United Numismatists coin show and annual convention. It was reported that the penny sold for such
an astonishing price due to its rarity and excellent condition. It was stated that there was no wear on the lettering, its Lady Liberty
face or the wreath on its back.
Here are a few items coin collectors won't care much about, but they are not worth a million bucks:
eBAY
#140683513067—
HUBLEY CAST IRON #7
MOTORCYCLE RACER.
Number of Bids: 19. SOLD AT:
$376.66. Date: 1/23/2012. This
little cast-iron Hubley motorcycle
was not in the best of condition,
with paint loss and a missing
rear metal wheel and tire. Hubley
started making cast-iron toys in
1909 and is still in the toy business.
Hubley Indian motorcycle
toys can bring well into five figures,
but this one, considering the
issues, was all the money.
Number of Bids: 43. SOLD AT:
$15,000. Date: 1/8/2012. This
double-sided porcelain sign was
six feet tall and two feet wide. It
was in excellent condition with
bright luster and only a couple of
minor chips at the bottom. Early
John Deere signs, in good condition,
sell for serious money, and a
few years back another example
of this sign brought close to $30k,
so even at this price, it was well
bought.
of Bids; 3. SOLD AT: $40.99.
Date: 12/26/2011. This little 2¼inch
badge had a minor chip,
but all in all it was in acceptable
condition. It was marked Lorioli
of Milano, and that would date
it to the 1920s. At the price paid,
an attractive badge for very little
money.
$5,400. Date: 11/20/2011. The
Territory of Hawaii first issued
standardized license plates in
1922, but the two largest counties,
Honolulu and Hawaii, issued
their own plates starting in
1915. During the first two years,
they were porcelain, and in 1917
they were steel. As such, this is
a unique and desirable plate that
sold for adult — but realistic —
money.
eBAY # 140669688113—
EARLY GERMAN SILVER
CIGAR LIGHTER/CUTTER.
Number of Bids: 13. SOLD AT:
$363.54. Date: 1/2/2012. This
highly detailed combination
lighter and cigar cutter dates to
around 1915, based on the open
touring car featured in relief on
the case. It was about six inches
long, marked Alpacca/Austria
and was in wonderful condition.
An interesting early piece at a fair
price.
eBAY #140672652939—
WHITE MOTOR CAR
WATCH FOB. Number of Bids:
13. SOLD AT: $128.88. Date:
12/26/2011. The first White steam
cars were built in Cleveland, OH,
in 1900, and the company began
producing gasoline-powered cars
in 1910. They produced about
9,100 steam cars and nearly 8,900
that were gasoline-powered. They
were always in the upper echelon
of motor cars, but White left the
business in 1918 to concentrate
on commercial vehicles. As such,
this is a rare and interesting fob
— and a bargain at the price paid.
eBAY #220934967751—
eBAY
#320823820183—
JOHN DEERE FARM
EQUIPMENT DOUBLESIDED
PORCELAIN SIGN.
eBAY #150698381016—1917
eBAY #140665931466—
FIAT AUTO BADGE. Number
HAWAII LICENSE PLATE.
Number of Bids: 16. SOLD AT:
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162
BOYCE MOTOMETER DIECUT
TIN DISPLAY SIGN.
Number of Bids: 4. SOLD AT:
$345. Date: 1/22/2012. This
20-inch tin Boyce MotoMeter
display sign was not in the best
of condition, with overall wear
and deterioration. It featured the
MotoMeter temperature gauge
mounted on a radiator cap. While
they are not all that common,
they do appear from time to time.
In good condition they sell for a
couple grand, so once again, condition
makes all the difference. ♦
POSTMASTER
Send address changes to:
Sports Car Market
PO Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208
CPC IPM Sales Agreement No. 1296205
Sports Car Market